Awakening

Chapter 9

The delightful sight of two captured angaran males awaited Archon as he approached the downed vessel on Voeld. Primus never skipped a beat to seek praise for her work. She bowed, "Everything has been prepared."

"Why are there two?" He stated the obvious, motioning to the angaran. Her message was that they captured the pilot.

"Apparently its brother came looking for him." She lifted her head. "Its capture was rather easy.

The two angaran were sitting up against the ship's inner wall in shackles. Their skin tone were identical with a soft bluish tint. "Spare my brother's life." The one on the left spoke up first as the Archon slowly made his approach to them. Fear struck their pained faces. "This one," It pointed towards Primus. "It says you need a pilot. I'm one of the best in the Resistance. I will take you where you want to go. Just let my brother return to our family. He is young."

"Dahgan," The one on the right urged. "The Kett are not to be trusted. I will not let you sacrifice yourself."

"I am the oldest, Falor," Dahgan shook his head. "Our mothers need you. You should have returned back. We were outnumbered."

Rolling his eyes, Archon turned to address Primus who was waiting at the craft's door. "The Pathfinder is heading to Meridian. I want you to be ready for her arrival, Primus. I will take Hyperion to severe her connection with the artificial intelligence. Her interference will end." A lie. He had no real intentions of completing the severance, well not instantly. He wanted to be connected to her even if it was momentarily. The chance to have more than a few glimpses of memories from the implant. To truly become one with her. He desired her, even if he tried to suppress these impulses with hatred. She is weak, he reminded himself. Unworthy. Once she loses Sam, then she will fumble in the dark with Remnant like he did and he will have control over them.

"It will be done. What about the captive?" A glimmer in her eye.

"I'll keep them both." He gave the nearby guard a glance who then grabbed Dahgan roughly by the arm and jerked him towards the pilot's chair.

"No! Let my brother go!" Dahgan tried to plant his feet firmly to gain traction but it was useless and the Kett shoved him into the chair. He tried to swivel to continue his protest, but a painful foray in the head with the butt of the Kett's gun deterred him from doing so. Dahgan cried out as he held his bleeding head and somehow found courage to stand and fight.

Angrily, Archon took matter into his own hands and quickly snatched the other guard's gun that was standing next to him. He jabbed the barrel into the head of Falor, pressing hard against the flesh where it covered the skull. "You will be wise to comply with our requests." He spoke slowly to let the scene itself reveal the dire situation that the other's sibling was in.

Raising his hands in defeat, Dahgan gingerly turned back to address the controls. "For my mothers' sake, I hope they forgive me." After a quick few punch of the controls, the craft's engines came to life with a gentle hum. That was Primus' cue to jump out and leave the world in her own ship to carry out the task that was assigned to her.

Once the door closed, Archon kept the gun poised and then motioned the guard to come over and take over. He lowered his head down to the trembling being before him letting the cool metal of the barrel still rest upon his temple. "Make sure he does exactly what I say." Moving over, he took the seat next to the pilot and watched him man the controls. Pulling up his drone, he displayed the coordinates of the Nexus and Hyperion. "Proceed to fly here. No radio contact. Not until I tell you."

Once they were out of the atmosphere and into the darkness of space, Archon relaxed a little and transferred the drone's feed over to the console in front of him. A few seconds later, the feed from the implant showed Ryder looking out a window as her own ship was traveling to Meridian. There was a faint reflection of her image on the glass in front of her. Dahgan took notice and tilted his head briefly in a curious manner as he tried to see what was displayed. "May I ask what that is?" A simple grunt is all that the angaran got in response.

Archon shifted his body from discomfort as it felt like eternity in the small craft. It was meant for cargo transport, not luxury. Everyone was still awake and alert. He knew that the angaran were trying to probably stage a cue, but where would they go? They were outnumbered and the only door led to their deaths. He welcomed them to take the chance. If need be, the Kett could fly this vessel to their destination but the angaran were a needed factor. They were his disguise.

"We are coming up to the coordinates now," Dahgan announced as he slowed his speed seeing the large structure's approach. His eyes grew wide and he turned his head to look at this captor. "Are you going to attack this place?" He then looked to the back of the craft and seemed to be almost counting how many were on board.

"I have fifteen," Archon answered calmly for him. "The purpose of this trip is not for you to comprehend. Scan for signatures and see where the Hyperion is docked. Put me next to it."

The craft maneuvered to the right once the signature was locked. Suddenly the radio came to life, "Unknown vessel, this is Nexus control. Please identify yourselves."

Not alarming. The Archon anticipated this to come up. "Tell them that you have an Angaran Emissary. Do not tell them where you plan to dock at. Give them the appropriate flight identification number." Dahgan hesitated and clenched his teeth as he casted a glance back at his brother who watched on. Archon noted this. "Your purposes are almost fulfilled. It would be unwise to alter it now."

Torn between morality and family, Dahgan returned back to the comm, "This is an inbound emissary of the Angaran from Voeld. Flight identification code: 84XT6. Requesting a berth."

"Please hold for verification."

"They are not expecting us!" Falor found his courage to speak up from the back. "They will shoot us down!" Dahgan didn't move from the controls. The whole ship seemed to be on pins and needles. Nexus was getting larger with their approach and the Hyperion Arc could now be seen. Nearby were three other arcs: the ones that were lost to the Kett.

"This is Director Tann of the Initiative," An unfamiliar voice came to the radio finally. "My apologies for this delay. We were not aware of this….dignitary arrival. I'm checking with colonial affairs with your ambassador. I'm sure you are aware of the procedures."

Archon didn't know who this guy was, but he wanted to strangle him. The tone of his voice was pure irritation. He spoke fast almost like the ones that brokered the deal with the Salarian arc…had to be one of them! He restrained himself from taking over the comm.

Surprisingly, Dahgan spoke up first, "We ran into trouble with our craft along the way and cannot wait any longer. We will land and then you can clear us." He pushed the craft lower towards the arcs' docking station. Lifting an eye ridge, Archon watched on. He was quite impressed on how quick this one reacted.

Tann stumbled on the other end for another response. "I-I…understand the concern, but-"There was a pause and he seemed to be talking to someone in the background. "Why are you landing at the arcs? Please change course to the appropriate docking station. We will meet you there."

Slamming his fist down on the radio button, Archon ended the call. He was done and they had to move fast. He motioned for Dahgan to continue his approach.

After the final tether took place, Archon rose from his seat to gather his men. Falor quickly stood and glanced over at his brother who remained at the pilot's chair. They eagerly awaited their orders. Engaging the door lift, Archon motioned his troops to go and board the Hyperion. They had to be quick about this. The Nexus would send a security team to their location. He stopped the last Kett and held out his hand for his weapon. "We are free to leave?" Falor blurted out first, the question of the hour.

Not giving a verbal reply, Archon held up the gun and fired, hitting Falor square in the heart. His lifeless body slumped over instantly as blood splattered on the wall from where the round pierced through his body. Dahgan wailed loudly and before he had a chance to avenge his brother's death, Archon fired again, nailing him in the head. Blood and brain matter splattered on the chair and console. Three Kett guards hung back to escort him to their primary target: The Hyperion. The docking area cleared out from normal workers and screams could be heard inside the mammoth size ship. Several surprised security guards were found dead on the ground. They were not able to fire a single round.

Once inside, he turned to his officer, "Lock the ship. Send a group to overtake the controls. I want its departure immediately." Cries filled the halls and corpses. It was a blood bath. Their attack was so swift that the pathetic humans on board didn't stand a chance to defend themselves against the slaughter. He knew that hijacking the arc was only part of his true mission. He needed to separate the vessel to hold its occupants hostage until he found Celeste's brother and Sam.

Up ahead he saw a Kett kicking down a young human officer that was desperately trying to defend himself with only bare hands. Another soldier stood by watching. "Stop!" Archon approached the beaten down man. "Where do you keep your artificial intelligence?"

"Sam Node?" The man paused to try to understand the question's purpose. He was quick to identify the subject, but then hesitated on answering further. Growling through his teeth in frustration, the Kett campaign leader grabbed him by the neck. His fingers squeezing tightly to block the passage ways. The officer fought to breathe. Archon didn't have to repeat himself as the man pointed down the hallway. Tossing him to the side, he proceeded down the corridor and heard gunfire behind him. He smirked. Pathetic.

Luckily for him, the hallway was clear. The Kett had already made their way through and anybody who were once stationed there were killed or ran for their lives. There was gently humming from the room to the left of him. Had to be this Sam Node. His comm cracked to life, interrupting the silence. "We have debarked and heading to the coordinates," One of his officers came over the frequency.

"Continue course. Wait for my signal." He smiled widely as he saw the bright lit particles of Sam hovering in the back of the room. He had to make one quick call first. The timing had to be perfect for him to really enjoy it… "Primus, did sh-"A pause. He wouldn't let slip up this time. "Did the Pathfinder reach Meridian?"

"It went through our troops and reached one of the chambers. It has not come out yet. I have more ready for the ambush." Frustration was in her voice. "Any further orders?"

He cut the comm before giving a response. His heart raced and brought up the drone to show the feed. Ryder was studying the Remnant console in front of her for interface. This was the moment he had been waiting for! He would rid her of her handicap and then she would be nothing to him! He would discard her and the confusion that riddled his mind for months would be no more. Only a faint memory would be left that he would eventually squash. Lifting his hand up, he could feel the surge of energy just inches away from his fingertips. He licked his lips just thinking of what he would harness once connected. "Time to see what you are made of, Pathfinder."