The surviving Ditaeon security squad were falling back. Wrench tried her best to cover them but there were just too many Roekaar. She would believe it if someone told her this was the entire Kadara Roekaar cell attacking. Bodies littered the streets. Still, Dex had done an admirable job keeping the majority of the civilians off the streets. More than a few colonists had taken up arms to help him as they barricaded themselves inside the largest building in Ditaeon.
"We're secure. Waiting for the all clear. Ahh… over," Dex said.
Wrench sniggered over the comms. "Hey!" he protested.
She ignored him and kept her attention on covering the security squad. "Charger, where are you?" Wrench asked over the comms.
There were just sounds of gunfire and explosions over the comms. "Do you need assistance?"
Ryder's grunt of pain came over the comms before she spoke. "Is there a quick way to disarm a whole bunch of energy cells turned bombs?" she asked.
Wrench fired her rifle as she thought about it. Dex chirped up. "It's faster to detonate them rather than disarm them."
More gunfire and battle cries. "Makes sense."
Wrench didn't hear the explosion through the comms but with her actual ears. It was loud, it roared and it sent a shockwave sweeping through Ditaeon. She winced taking cover on the roof as best as she could while the building shook. Those on the ground were thrown down by the detonation.
"Fuck that worked!" Ryder said.
Her father was shaking his head at her, probably at her stupidity. Ryder didn't care. It worked and that's all that matters. She managed to detonate a section of the minefield. Ryder glanced at the entryway. It was barely a quarter of the available space. Did I get them all?
Ryder raised her omni tool up to scan so that she could be sure but a concussive shot slammed into her back. Scrambling on her knees and hands she rolled behind cover. There was just no time. Ryder twisted to her side and found her father looking at her. He was gesturing wildly ahead.
Yeah, yeah I know there's fucking more.
Cora slammed on the brakes as an explosion ignited the southern point. Mines. She squinted. "Vetra, what do you see?" she asked.
Vetra popped her head out of the Nomad and looked. Her turian eyes far superior to a human's. "There's a human biotic fighting the Roekaar just at the south entry point."
Now that Vetra had pointed it out, Cora could make out the flashes of blue in the distance. She huffed a breath in relief. At least Ditaeon wasn't without its defenders. The Nomad surged forward again. No time to lose.
Ryder cursed as she saw the Nomad still coming towards her. She had no time to head them off. Resistance was stiff and she could barely keep herself in one piece. An omni grenade went off at her feet throwing her on her back, taking her shields down. Quickly, Ryder rolled behind cover. Her amp was hot, burning her neck. Her stamina was flagging. And the fight was far from over.
"Roekaar heading your way, Charger," Wrench said over the comms.
Ryder peered around the corner of the wall. Wrench wasn't referring to the ones from the south but rather than the ones from the north. "Charger, get out of there. You're getting surrounded."
"Fuck!"
Ryder checked her ammo. She didn't have much left. Her muscles were screaming from exhaustion. She couldn't go much longer without backup. Ditaeon couldn't hold out longer without backup either. Backup was coming only from one direction, the south. Ryder gritted her teeth. Her father was nodding at her in her peripheral vision. The Nomad was still headed for her. There was no time, it's now or never. The south had to be cleared.
"Keep them off my back!" Ryder yelled.
She popped from behind cover. Sending a Push in a circle around her. Roekaar were swept off their feet. The first wave knocking over the second. Ryder fired her rifle in a wild sweep, catching many unaware. Reaching the scorched edge of the minefield, she jumped higher than humanly possible, aided by her biotics. At the apex of her jump, layers upon layers of blue shield formed at her hand, curling over her in a wide half dome. Then she flipped, turning head down. With a quick Push behind her, Ryder slammed down shield first hard on the ground.
The team was out of the Nomad, running hard towards Ditaeon. With the possibility of a minefield around Ditaeon, Cora couldn't take the chance. Then there was a flash of powerful biotics that made her body tingled. The lone figure was the only thing holding the Roekaar back. Hold on!
Then the biotic launched themselves into the air as they formed a wide shield at their hand as they fell back down towards the earth, head first, arms stretched. Cora frowned even as she closed the distance. Though they were still some distance away, Vetra had stopped to prop her sniper rifle up. The boom of her rifle was a steady beat. The others readied their weapons. Cora fired, at this distance, it was useless. If it forced the enemy to take cover it was worth it.
The biotic was on their way down now. They fell faster and faster. It was like the ground just caught fire and a volcano erupted from beneath. A shockwave swept out from the epicentre. Cora instinctively pulled up a shield over her team. Still, the blast rocked them and she had to hunch to keep from falling over. Goddess…
As soon as the air began to clear, Cora rushed forward. That person was sure to need medical attention if they survived at all.
Ryder's ears were ringing as she staggered to her feet. Shaking her head to clear it, she yelled, louder than strictly necessary, into the comm. "Report!"
Gods, let's not do that again.
Panting, she rested her hands on her knees as she bent over. Her body was a whole mess of aches. Ryder was sure, she would bruise all over from that little stunt.
"That blast took out quite a bit of Roekaar forces but they are still not retreating," Wrench replied.
"They are here!" Dex screamed.
Though her comms, Ryder could hear gunfire from Dex's end. She took a couple of steps to test how steady she was. Her father was just ahead of her, pointing towards Dex's location. Fine, fine. I get it. "Hey are you ok?" someone asked.
Ryder spun around. It was Cora. Fuck.
She nodded before turning to run. Cora probably thinks I'm crazy.
"Hey!" Cora called after her.
Yeah, I'm crazy. Ryder ignored her and just ran. Get Dex out. Then, we're good to go.
As soon as she was sure she was out of earshot, she said, "Sniper, get ready to pull out. The real calvary is here. I'll go get our wannabe hero."
"Got it. Be careful. There's very little cover between your location and his."
Music echoed within her helmet.
I've seen fire and I've seen grace
You make the world a special place
And I'm still tired but I'm awake
All things are gonna dissipate
She ran and ran and ran.
And I'll sit quiet and meditate
Maybe on another day
And I've acquired a brand new fate
All things are gonna dissipate my awe
Her hands slammed in a fresh magazine into her rifle. It was her last. Then, it would be her pistol and biotics. Neither would last forever. But with the Tempest crew on the ground, she didn't need forever, she just needed a little longer.
The Tempest crew was hot on her heels. Everyone, including the remaining Roekaar forces were converging on Dex's location. The Roekaar ahead had their back facing them. Neither Ryder nor the crew let that opportunity passed.
Cora was amazed. The biotic turned out to be a lady dressed in just a leather jacket, cargo pants, her head encased in a crash helmet of all things. No armour, no shields, and barely adequate weapons. Yet she walked out of that explosion unscathed. Before Cora had her bearings about her, the biotic was off. Either the biotic didn't hear Cora when she called out or she was ignoring them. Cora had no idea which.
"Liam, Peebee," Cora said. "Clear the area towards the north. The rest of you with me."
The Roekaar finally realising they had enemies on their backs, were firing back. Cora and Scott fought side by side, as they worked their way towards the largest structure Ditaeon had to offer. Even from their distance, Cora could tell the holo-lock was red. One tech was outside trying to hack it. It continuously flickered between green and red. "Good boy," a muffled voice said.
She turned and realised it was the biotic. The biotic ducked her head after realised Cora was looking. The biotic worked well with her team. Weaving and bobbing in and out among the Roekaar. She kept the Roekaar off their flanks and shielded them when required. For someone whom they had just met, Cora's breath was taken away at the ease they all worked together. Goddess, can I recruit her? She'll make a good addition to the team.
"Cora!" Scott yelled a warning as a Roekaar fired at her.
Just as she was about to raise her own shields, the figure Charged in with her arm extended. In her hand, a small silver blade glinted in the sun, not the usual omni blade that Cora's used to. The blade took the Roekaar right in the chest. She plunged the blade down in quick succession even as the pistol in her left hand bucked twice, firing point blank into his face. The biotic turned to make sure Cora was fine. Cora took a deep breath to steady herself before nodding once at her. With that, the figure was off again.
For a moment, Cora thought the figure's moves felt familiar but the battlefield was no place to examine random thoughts. She turned back to the battle, sending a Shockwave at the enemy as she moved forward.
Ryder's breath caught when she spotted Scott fighting alongside Cora. She should have expected that. Cora would try to bring Scott on board. There was no reason not to. There was room to spare after all. Ryder's jaw twitched as she looked for Jaal. He was nowhere to be found. Maybe Cora sent him off somewhere else with orders. Pressing her back against cover, her father was glaring at her. Right, right. Get your head straight.
"I can't keep them back any longer!" Dex yelled. "They are prying the doors open! I can't do anything about it!"
"Hold on," Ryder said. "I'm almost there."
"Sniper, where are you?"
"On your six," Wrench replied as her rifle boomed, effectively taking down one of the Roekaar prying the door open.
"Nice shot," Ryder said. "Keep them busy."
"Hurry, it looks like they want to slip an energy cell bomb between the doors."
"Shit."
Ryder discarded her rifle, long since empty of ammo. She did what she did best, charging. For a second, she wished she had a shotgun in her hands. I'll make do with this shitty pistol. Ryder dug deep from within the foundations of her reserves and Pull. That lifted Roekaar and their covers alike into the air. "Go, go, go!" Cora shouted, taking advantage of her move.
Ryder didn't bother moving behind cover. Dex's panicked cries in her helmet were all the motivation she needed to keep going. Trust me, I said. Fuck! She didn't bother with her pistol. Her aim was horrible at the speed she was moving. Her biotics would be the better bet. Then her leg buckled. Ryder fell heavily. Pain radiated from her calf. She rolled quickly to get her back to something solid. A glance told her she took a hit. Blood darkened her pants. Damn. Quickly she tore open a pack of medi-gel and smeared the contents over her wound, immediately numbing it. "Rider!" Dex yelled, voice high in panic.
"Shut up!" she yelled.
"Quick!" he shouted. "They're breaking through!"
Ryder forced herself to her feet. Her leg trembled but held. She was just 10m away. A horde of Roekaar separating herself and the door. An energy cell was being passed from one Roekaar to another. Shit, shit, shit!
Ryder Charged, ignoring who she was barreling into. Her pistol firing indiscriminately into the press of bodies. Her eyes only for the energy cell. There were two pairs of hands pulling the doors apart. A third pair attempting to push the cell through the doors. Ryder knew she couldn't get there in time so she did the only thing she could think of. She fucking Pulled with everything she had.
The energy cell along with the Roekaar clinging to it flew towards her. It was a larger mass than she was expecting. The Roekaar slammed right into her chest. The tangled Roekaar and human pile fell. Ryder's pistol went spinning away. Pinned by the heavier Roekaar, Ryder had only her biotics to work with. With a twist, she reached into her boot. Her fingers wrapped around her blade. Flicking it open quickly, she plunged it once, twice and thrice into the Roekaar's back. All the while, she kept a death grip on the energy cell bomb.
The Roekaar twisted around to face Ryder. He clamped one hand around her throat while the other still tight on the cell. Neither was willing to relinquish their grip. Ryder felt her airway being steadily crushed under the Roekaar's larger hand. She tightened her grip on her blade and stabbed relentlessly. In then out. Blue blood fell in dribs and drabs all over her face. Ryder's vision was tunnelling. Her heartbeat loud in her ears. Her breaths came quick and shallow. With a surge of strength, she Pushed her blade right into his throat. His arm loosened its grip around her throat. She sucked a big gulp of sweet air down in a coughing fit. The Roekaar gurgled, "Enjoy."
With a depressed button, he released the energy cell as he slumped down in agony. Ryder looked at the beeping energy cell in her hand. Fuck, he armed it.
There was no time.
Dex and the surviving civilians were just beyond that door. Behind, the Tempest crew still engaged with the remaining Roekaar. There was nowhere to go.
The beeping was shrill and urgent. Its red light flashed quicker. Ryder stepped on the fallen Roekaar and used him as a jumping block. Her amp seared her flesh as she grunted with effort. Pushing downwards against him, Ryder jumped. Her biotics boosted her higher than she could ever jump. Ryder's fingers tingled as energy surged through her body. She wrapped the cell in layers of shield before finally launching it into the air with the biggest Push she could possibly muster. Ryder screamed as her amp flared hotter than it ever did.
The cell exploded.
Wrench watched as the human did the impossible. The cell flew higher and higher. Just as it reached its apex, it exploded. Shrapnel and bomb bits scattered across the sky. She raised a hand to shield herself. "No!" she shouted as the human started to plunge back to earth.
She was limp, her fall uncontrolled. She wasn't even slowing down. Wrench vaulted from the roof to a lower level. She didn't know what she could do but her legs just carried her forward. Wrench saw the door keeping Roekaar out being forced open from the inside. A familiar turian was wriggling his way out.
Dex closed his eyes in concentration for a quick moment. When he opened them, he gathered his energy in his palm before sending it upwards towards the falling human. It surrounded her but it barely made a difference. "No!" he yelled.
As she drew near, Wrench saw a figure in black and white Initiative armour raised an arm towards the human. Instantly her fall slowed in midair. The quick meeting between human and ground transited to a smooth gradual gentle descend. The human was carefully settled onto the earth, limp and unconscious.
The Initiative crew quickly mopped up the remaining Roekaar though a majority of them still escaped. The one in black and white armour pulled her helmet off to reveal a blonde headed human underneath. She bent over their human. "No!" Wrench shouted, this time directing it at the blonde.
What's did the human said about helmets?
Cora was glad she was able to return the favour to the biotic. That was a crazy move she had attempted and thanked the fucking goddess it worked. Otherwise, the blast would have killed or seriously injured everyone in the area. She moved quickly over to the unconscious biotic. The blast must have knocked her out. Her fingers worked quickly to remove the helmet.
A salarian armed with a sniper rifle was running towards them. Her friend? Cora pulled the helmet off. Then she froze.
"Ryder?" Cora whispered the name like a prayer.
It was unmistakable. Yes, she was thinner, gaunt even. Her hair was a different colour, half of it shaved. A tattoo running along the side of her head. "Ryder!" she shouted.
Scott turned, thinking she was calling for him. He hurried over but was stopped by the salarian. He stared at the sniper rifle levelled at his chest. His eyes glided over to Cora and rested on the limp form on the ground. His eyes widened. "Sara!" he shouted, making to get over to her side.
"Freeze!" the salarian shouted. "Nobody move."
Cora exchanged a glance with Scott. A younger turian joined the salarian, a pistol held out against them. Vetra and Drack stared at the strange standoff. They added their guns to the mix. "Get away from her," the salarian warned.
"Who are you?" Scott asked.
"You don't need to know that. She's with us." the salarian said evenly, her steady aim with her rifle meant business.
"Yeah!" the turian added.
The salarian seemed to stifle a reaction at that. She jerked her chin at the turian. He quickly scrambled over to pull Sara out of her arms. "Keep your hands up and nobody needs to get hurt."
Cora nodded at Scott who was bristling. She knew they were all on the same side but finding Sara here had thrown her off balance. Was she here on Kadara all this time? Why was she here? Does she have any part in this Perseus - Roekaar situation?
Cora gritted her teeth. She wanted answers. As the turian dragged Sara's limp body across the ground, Sara started groaning. All eyes zoomed right on Sara but she remained stubbornly unconscious.
"Are you letting them take the kid?" Drack asked.
Cora stood carefully, keeping her hands up. "We're all on the same side here," she said.
"I don't know you. I don't trust you," the salarian said.
The salarian kept a close eye on Cora and Scott, her finger steady on the trigger. Cora wasn't taking any chances with a sniper rifle. Though they would be able to take her down nobody, even with a shield and armour, would be able to walk away unscathed from a sniper round at close range.
"What I do know," the salarian said, glancing at the turian who had one of Sara's arm over his shoulder. "She's coming with us."
"No!" Scott yelled. "She's my sister. Who is she to you?"
The salarian cocked her head, her mouth twisted into a grimace. Instead the turian piped up. "She's my teacher and she's fucking awesome. She just saved all of us. Now, get out of the way!"
Scott was a little floored by the response. Sara, what in hell's bells were you up to all this time? Why didn't you come home? "I'm coming with you!" Scott insisted, taking a step towards Sara.
Drack shifted as well. "No," the salarian said. "Not all of you."
"I'm not letting all of you near her," she said. "I can see you all need answers but you all can't come. Just two of you."
The salarian pointed at Scott and Cora. "Leave your weapons here. You can come with us."
Scott glanced at Cora, his eyes pleading. She knew he had to go. Scott had been worried and thinking about Sara for months. There was no way he would let her out of his sight when she was so close, not after that vid they recovered. "Go, I've got to…" Cora said as she gestured at the state of Ditaeon.
Scott nodded tightly. "I'll ping you once I have a location."
The salarian shook her head. "No," she said. "I'll ping you if I deem you trustworthy."
"Fine," Scott spat.
"Let's go."
Cora watched as the strange salarian and turian pair half carried, half dragged Sara away between them. They rebuffed Scott's offer to help. Scott could only trail uselessly behind them, fists clenched at his side.
Goddess, Sara…
Lyrics taken from Disspate by Sam Garrett
NEW ART
Sara Ryder, art by Lukreva
Sara Ryder, art by Noctuaalba
Sara vs Krogan, art by Palavenmoons
Wrench, art by Palavenmoons
Dex, art by Palavenmoons
Sara Ryder - Badass biotic, art by Swimming Trunks
Ryder's Reflection, art by Jubberry
Sara Ryder, art by Xla-Hainex
Sara Ryder Post Havarl, Pre Meridian, art by Elyhumanoid