Wrench watched the male who claimed to be her human's brother. No, not brother, twin. He paced her workshop. "What's your name?" she asked.
He paused mid-step at her question. Turning his head to her, Wrench saw his brown eyes was caught between relief and anger. Hmmm… brown like hers but brown is a common eye colour among humans. Proves nothing.
"Scott," the human said. "Scott Ryder."
Wrench's only reaction to the Ryder name was a slight narrowing of her eyes. Who hasn't heard of the other Ryder? Shield of Meridian and the Bloody Blade. An oxymoron of a larger than life personality with feats longer than her arm. But that was Sara Ryder the ex-Pathfinder. This here was most definitely not Sara Ryder unless Wrench was terribly mistaken. Her eyes flicked over to the closed bunker door and she pursed her lips.
Wrench watched Scott turned back to his pacing. He had been at it for hours. Up and down, like he was on perimeter patrol. Every couple of steps a quick glance at the bunker, just to check if the door still remained closed. A sigh every time it was. His brow knitted in worry while he completed another circuit. He looked, walked and talked exactly like one of those Nexus types. People who had the luxury of proper resources, a space station which supported their needs and the ability to look down at the ones who had to do anything just to eek out a living. Her human definitely didn't come across as one of them when Wrench met her. She was one of the survivors now no matter where she came from before.
"What's her name?" Wrench asked, pointed one of her three fingers at the closed bunker door.
Scott walked over, skirting Kiba's protective position in front of the bunker. He sank heavily down on the sofa opposite Wrench, as if his legs gave out, taking her human's usual spot. Her eyes narrowed further. She didn't quite understand the flare of possessiveness over a spot on the sofa.
Her human. Wrench turned the thought around in her head. Was the human really hers? Yes, Wrench was familiar with her, had a business relationship with her. But her human? Really? Wrench glanced at the closed door. You don't get much closer after you have seen her at her worst. Choked her out, patched her up, fought side by side with her. Kiba had her head resting on her paws, eyes watchful. Even winning over Kiba. Nobody wins over Kiba. There was no denying she was one of them. Whatever they were.
Scott raised an eyebrow, his suspicions aroused, not that Wrench cared. "She didn't tell you? I mean it's an easy guess if you already know my name."
True but I don't just trust random strangers that come into my home and tell me they had the Ryder name.
Wrench didn't reply. She had her suspicions since that incident with the Remnant console. Still wasn't it far-fetched to think the ex-Pathfinder was the one she had been doing business with all along?
Girl, it's time to lay all the cards on the table, the chickens have come home to roost.
Dex, who was hovering behind, hissed in frustration. Of course, the boy wanted her real name. Wrench ignored him. "Fine," Scott said, leaning back against the sofa, his fingers kneading his temples. "How long has she been here? What was she doing with you? Who are you two? Are you even sure she's fine in there?"
Wrench laughed. Her mouth split open wide. "You sure, you're related?" she asked. "She wasn't ever so nosy."
Scott clamped his mouth shut, frustration clear in the set of his shoulders. Dex and Wrench had carried Ryder between them into the bunker and promptly shut the door behind them. Leaving Scott to face a growling Kiba. Wrench chased Dex out of the room after she was sure Ryder was breathing and not bleeding. Everything else was beyond her abilities.
"We have a medical doctor on the Tempest. She should come and check on her," Scott pointed out.
"So you say."
"Why don't you trust me?" he asked. "I've done nothing!"
"This is Kadara," Wrench pointed out.
Scott fell silent again. His sigh of helplessness loud in Wrench's workshop.
Wrench did send Dex to get Nakamoto to take a look at her unconscious human. It took a while to get Nakamoto here. He did a double take at the new guest pacing around Wrench's place but Nakamoto kept his mouth shut. He examined the human under Wrench's watchful eyes. "Mostly biotics exhaustion," he announced when he was done. "Just make sure you apply medi-gel on that leg wound."
Wrench nodded. She glanced at Scott, her eyes weighing him. "Pay him," she said.
Scott frowned but did as she asked. Wrench nodded. Maybe what he said might be true. Nobody spends a single credit on some random stranger.
Now they all were settling in for a long wait. "I'm Wrench," she said introducing herself. "The turian is Dex."
Scott nodded. "Can I send my location now?"
It had been four hours. The human seemed sincere enough. At least it was obvious to Wrench that he cared for their human. She nodded. "Just one other person, not the krogan or turian. And no weapons."
He sighed and quickly tapped a quick message.
He hadn't eaten anything since the excitement at Ditaeon and the discovery of Sara. Scott was starving. His stomach growled. The way the turian was shooting him looks wasn't making him any happier. The salarian who called herself Wrench Obviously not her real name. always seemed to be having a silent laugh at his expense. She walked over to the pantry and popped a can of dog food open. The white husky perked up but never left her position from in front of Sara's door. How in hell's bells did they get a husky on Kadara? The husky glowered at Scott. That dog is fucking illegal.
Wrench put the bowl down for the dog and she tossed something in the direction of the turian. Something small and rectangular hit him in the chest. Scott realised it was a ration bar. "What's this?" he asked.
"Lunch, dinner," Wrench replied with a shrug. "Food."
Scott's mouth twisted in distaste but he unwrapped the bar. He ate with a grimace on his face. Wrench laughed. "You Nexus types are just too spoilt."
"Rider eats these all the time," Dex said. "It's like the only thing she eats."
Scott stared at the turian. "So you do know her name!"
"No, it's just a nickname," Dex explained.
Wrench sighed and shook her head. Dex fell silent. There was a beep on Wrench's omni tool. Cora was here. She de-activated the lock and the door slid open. Cora strode in, weariness etched across her face but her posture stiff and straight, as if walking into a battle zone. She paused for a moment taking in the sight of Scott having a ration bar meal with the salarian and turian. Then a loud growl filled the air. Her eyes snapped to the husky. "You got a dog?" she cried incredulously.
Introductions were quickly made and Cora ended up with a ration bar in her hand. The awkward silence was almost deafening in the room. Dex looked uncomfortable, unused to inaction and waiting while the salarian was happily pottering around with her projects, ignoring them. For all she said about not trusting them, she was perfectly contented for them to invade her personal space. Scott exchanged a glance with Cora as he brought her up to speed with the situation.
"Makes sense," Cora said. "Given what I've seen her do today. I'm not surprised she has totally emptied herself biotically."
Scott sighed. "I just wish… I don't know what I wish. I wish this shit never happened in the first place."
Cora knew what he meant. "Hey, she's fine. She'll be fine. We found her. That's all that matters now."
She took his larger hands in hers and squeezed. Wrench looked at their hands then back at her work, not commenting on what was happening. Dex, on the other hand, seemed vibrating with curiosity. "You say your name is Cora Harper right?" he asked.
Cora nodded cautiously. "And you're Scott Ryder?" he turned towards Scott.
"Yeah, I am."
Dex turned to Wrench, his mandibles flapping in excitement. "Shut up, Dex," Wrench said without looking up at him. "Whose side are you on anyway?"
The turian shook his head and schooled his features back into the sullen and cold teenager before Cora's arrival. "Right, right," he said.
Cora looked at Wrench then at and Dex and couldn't help wonder how Sara had fallen in with them.
She wasn't fast enough. The energy cell was going to go off! Her biotics was depleted. Why was it gone? A flash of memory lanced through her mind. An injection at the back of her neck. Countless pinpricks each one keeping her from being whole. Shit! She threw herself forward, wrapping the cell with her own body. It didn't explode. Why? Then that familiar laughter rang out from around her. The cell had turned into that flask. That fucking flask. It had cracked in her hands. It burnt her skin. It melted her flesh. Ryder screamed and screamed, all the while no sound came out of her mouth.
Ryder jolted into awareness. Her heart racing. She blinked to get rid of the afterimage of her nightmare from her vision. Sitting up, her hands gripped the frame of the cot. Nightmare, just a nightmare. As her eyes got accustomed to the darkened room, her eyes snapped to the figure leaning against the wall, hidden in the shadows. Ryder flinched, her heart gave a violent lurch. "Fuck," she cursed under her breath. "Can you not do that?"
Burying her face in her hands as she tried to steady herself. The figure peeled away from the wall and stepped closer to her. Her father looked a little different. He wasn't angry like he usually was. Ryder frowned a little as he knelt in front of her, his shoulders hunched. His hand moved to rest on her knee but he stopped himself. "What's wrong with you?" she asked, confused by his show of concern. "This isn't like you."
Her father shook his head and jerked her head towards the door. There were voices coming in from behind the door. She remembered. Fuck. Levering herself to her feet, Ryder trudged towards the door. Her father gave her a pitying look before melting back into the shadows. Great, you're leaving me to face the music alone. Some father you are.
The door was unlocked. She snorted. I guess I wasn't having an episode. With a hiss, the door slid open and Ryder shielded her eyes with the sudden light. Instantly, Kiba was jumping on her, licking her face and demanding for a belly rub all at the same time. She slapped a hand on the wall to steady herself but her hand slipped. Within seconds, a pair of hands wrapped themselves around her shoulders. Ryder blinked. "Sara," the voice whispered, cracking a little.
Her beautiful brother buried his face against her shoulder. His arms tightened around her in a hug. For a moment, her arms were slacked by her side. Then, like the lock she had around her emotions was undone. Ryder raised her arms and linked them around Scott. "Hey," she managed to croak, her voice thick in her throat.
They stood like that for a moment before Wrench cleared her throat pointedly. Ryder pushed Scott, breaking the embrace. She gave him a weak smile before limping over to the sofa and collapsed into her usual spot. Kiba immediately settled herself next to Ryder, effectively ousting Scott from the sofa. With hands that practically moved on its own accord, she began to scratch Kiba's upturned belly.
Her eyes scanned the room. Scott, Cora but no Jaal. Why should I expect him here? I've broken trust in the worse possible way, what right do I have over him, anyone, anything? Still, his absence stung. Her mind couldn't help but travel down dark roads. Where is he? Am I dead to him? Her jaw twitched as she worked to rein her thoughts in.
Ryder groaned as she stretched her wounded leg out. "Erm… so…" she said, not sure how to do this.
How does a person actually explain why one ran away? What one had been up to for the past nine or so months? The things one had done to just stay alive?
She sighed, meeting Cora's eyes. Her hazelnut eyes were inscrutable. They met hers head-on, even and sure. Ryder rubbed her scar, fingers tracing it back and forth, as she turned her eyes to Scott. His were easier to read. Happiness and worry all mixed in one. Gods, I wish they were angry. At least I can deal with anger. I don't know how to deal with kindness.
She looked at Wrench. The salarian was amused. Of course, she's amused. Ryder groaned inwardly as she flicked her eyes over to Dex. She could tell he was practically bursting with questions. She rolled her eyes and prayed he had learnt enough to know when to shut up. "Guess I'll take my honest answer now," Wrench said, breaking the tension.
"Now?"
"Yeah."
"Okay…" Ryder said cautiously. An odd choice but sure. "Hit me."
"Who are you?"
"Really?" she asked, frowning. "That's what you were going to ask? Now?"
Wrench shrugged. "These two I don't know, don't trust and don't care about. They can tell me you're human and I'll have a hard time believing them," she explained pointing at Scott and Cora. "You, on the other hand, has been decent for a person surviving on Kadara. Tell me that you're Commander Shepard reborn and I might just believe you."
"Really?" Ryder snorted. "Me? Commander Shepard. You must be joking."
"That's just an example, maybe a little far fetched."
"A little?"
Scott and Cora followed the exchange with interest. "And decent? Have you met me? Tell that to Umi and all the people I've booted from Kralla's Song with my knife. Hell, ask Dex."
"You're decent," Dex added solemnly. "First, that Eiroch, then at that Remnant site, that's twice you've saved my life. Taking me on as a student is the cherry on top."
Scott raised both his eyebrows and glanced at Cora before returning his eyes to Ryder. She sighed as she shook her head. "Training you for a week, does not a teacher make."
"So, who are you?" Wrench pressed. "If you're not Commander Shepard."
Her jaw twitched. Shepard, gods a name I've not heard or thought about in a long time. She shook her head. "I can never be Shepard. I'm not good enough," Ryder said forcefully, old memories welled up. A story for another time.
Wrench's eyes narrowed. Fuck. Ryder glanced at her father who was standing behind Scott, eyes gentle, chest puffed up with pride as he looked his son over. Gods, even in death. The familiar old pain was coming back.
Folding her good leg up against her chest, Ryder rested her elbows on her knee. Her hand moved from the side of her head to the scar at her eyebrow. Scott's gaze felt like a laser tracing the tracks her escape had left on her face. Ryder fought not to react.
Nine months of habit was hard to break. After all, she had been banking on staying hidden by obscurity. Just saying her own name felt like the hardest thing in the world to do.
"Sara Ryder," she said, voice clipped as if the name felt a bitter taste on her tongue.
"You ARE the Pathfinder!" Dex cried as he surged to his feet.
"Not anymore," Ryder said, looking away.
Dex's mandibles went wide in what, Ryder didn't know. She didn't want to say it was awe because it would have been too much to shoulder. I don't want your trust. I don't want your admiration. Keep it.
"There, was that so hard?" Wrench said, without missing a beat.
Ryder frowned. "Why ask if you already guessed it?"
She just shrugged. "You can't run from who you really are."
Scott watched his baby sister yawned, eyes tired and ringed with shadow. The scar on her scalp on prominent display. It felt so much like a slap in the face every time he laid eyes on it. A sign that he had failed her, in so many ways. Her eyes met his before glancing at a point just behind him. There was a flash of hurt in her eyes. Scott was taken aback by its intensity
"Sara," Cora spoke up. "Are you sure you're up for this?"
She just grunted in response, grabbing a ration bar and stuffing it into her mouth. Scott marvelled a little at her ability to eat it without making a face. I guess the turian was right about that. Nobody moved except the dog, who was nuzzling Sara's free hand for more belly rubs. Scott felt a small pang of jealousy at the dog's acceptance of Sara. He pushed the childish thought aside.
"Some things just can't wait," Sara said downing the last bit of ration bar. "So, what do you want to know?"
The questions came fast and free. Sara answered them in turn. Some answers curt and short, others long and rambling.
She made sure they knew her reasons for leaving. An accident which got compounded by Scott and Drack's plan.
Her reasons for not following through with the plan laid out. One black sheep from the Ryder family was good enough. Cora glared at Scott at Sara's response. She laughed.
Where she's been since. Here and there. Mostly here.
Who was she to Wrench and Dex. There, Sara paused. Her lips flattened, eyes darted between the salarian and turian. She sighed. Business partners. Allies. Maybe… friends. Dex's eyes brightened at that admission while Sara rubbed her hands over her face.
Was she still missing time? Another long pause and a quick nod. I've found ways to prevent another Meridian. With some help. As she gestured at Wrench and Dex.
Sara had her head tilted back against the sofa by this time. Her voice getting softer and her answers getting slower. Finally, there was just light snoring. Scott glanced at Cora. She sighed. "She needs the sleep. The four hours she had was barely enough," she said. "The last time she did 20 hours and she wasn't doing half of what she did."
Dex puffed his chest at them as he eyed them with a vicious glare. "And there's no way I'm letting you arrest her!"
Cora smiled. Sara just seemed to be able to pull people into her orbit no matter where she is. "I'm not here to arrest her but there are things she needs to know about," she said.
Scott nodded, knowing she was referring to the vid they had recovered. Cora's omni tool chimed. It was Vetra. They stood up and walked into the bunker to have a private conversation.
"Go for Cora," she said.
"I've shown the vid to Drack," she said. "He's not taking it well."
"That's probably an understatement," Scott said flatly. "Nobody will take it well."
"He was going on and on about this must have been the reason why Ryder, sorry Sara, had been missing time," Vetra continued.
"We won't know for sure till Lexi gets a chance to examine her," Cora said. "I don't know if she will go."
Scott opened his mouth to say Sara would go but he closed it. Nine months living under such conditions had changed Sara. He could see it in her eyes. Some of the things she had done, she had described them in great details. Scott had to fight his own reactions. He wasn't the one on the run, barely having enough to eat, eking out a living on one of the most hostile planets. How could he judge her for the things she had done, had to do?
"SAM said he would need more time to fully decrypt and recover the rest of the files," Vetra reported.
"Understood," Cora said.
"Bring her home, Cora," Vetra whispered.
Scott watched as Cora straightened her back, her face grim with determination. "I will."