MASS EFFECT ANDROMEDA HOLLOW WORLDS:

CHAPTER 21

A secluded booth is where Torvi sat down in the far corner of the Vortex with her drink that Dutch concocted for her. He stated the formula was rare and derived from some ingredients she snagged for him off Eos. The color of the drink was a sparkly teal and it smelled sweet. The club was somewhat busy that night even though it was growing later. Many groups mingled together at tables while a few braved the flashy dance floor. A female human was manning the DJ booth. Her hair a ostentatious hot pink and she appeared to be around Torvi's age. Her moves were probably one of the best compared to the other dancers. When she was back on Earth, Torvi never really passed up the opportunity to hit the club and converse with the other goers. However, her mindset was not in it. All she could think about was the memory that she watched in SAM node when her mother said her final goodbyes to the family. Pain resurrected inside her and she yearned for those times again. She missed her mother and her father. Alec was a distant man and probably not the poster father that most wished for growing up. Though, he tended to be there when things mattered despite being wrapped up in his work as a N7 and developer of SAM.

The dark corner brought refuge to Torvi. She could remain hidden to avoid any conversations regarding the status on the outposts and medial tasks that sometimes she found herself being involved in. For once, she needed me time. Her fingers lightly traced the round rim of her glass and her blue eyes just swam into the liquid that beckoned for her to taste. She was among others while she coped, but yet solitude is what she wanted.

"This seat taken?" A familiar warm voice brought her eyes back up. Lexi looked at her with a worried expression.

"Have a seat." Torvi sat straighter up to save face. "Didn't think you would be here."

"I needed a drink as well." Lexi lifted her glass of wine as she sat down in the empty chair at the booth. "Couldn't sleep either?"

"Just thinking about mom," Ryder admitted gloomily as she finally took a sip of the beverage, smacking her lips for any remnants of the substance that lingered there. Nodding her head in approval, "Not bad."

"SAM sent me an updated report on your brain scans. I noticed a decrease in your serotonin."

"And?"

"Another memory revealed to you?" Lexi pressed, avoiding the explanation behind her interpretation of the results.

"I want to find them on my travels, but then I'm afraid to look. I put the last few off for so long and now I wish I never did see them." Torvi acknowledged as she took another sip. She glanced at the asari's glass. "What's troubling you?" She knew heading to the local bar for a drink was not the doctor's MO.

"That obvious?" Lexi laughed the question off. "I guess we all have our moments," Her eyes lowered sadly. "Or monsters."

"Troubled still about your work out there?" Ryder brought up their past conversation when she talked to Lexi. The doctor, at the time, seemed troubled that she was not doing any good aboard the Tempest and some of the crew such as Jaal and Peebee tendered to evade her. She felt isolated and a bother. Ryder did assure her that Jaal was still new then and Peebee tended not to be involved with anyone.

"Yes, but I'm getting a lot better after our talk." A warm smile moved across her blue lips. "Did you want to talk about the memories?"

"I'd rather not," Torvi shook her head. She then eyed the dance floor again. She needed to quit moping. "Want to dance?"

Lexi seemed confused by the out of place question. "What?"

"Dance," Torvi stood up from her chair and waited by the table.

"I'm not the dancing type, Ryder," Lexi chuckled. "Please do not let me stop you."

"Fine," Torvi laughed. "Yet, I expect to see you out there after you finish that glass." She eagerly moved to a free spot and swayed her body with the rhythm. A few patrons nearby cheered as they saw her get involved and welcomed the pathfinder. "Hey!" She waved to them as she continued to dance. Every now and then, she would glance over at her table to see Lexi still sitting there, nursing her drink and moving her head gently with the beat. She still remained reclusive about joining her. The song changed over to another faster beat and when Ryder looked over at the DJ near the doorway, she caught a glimpse of a male turian that came strolling in. She had no clue who he was and he continued his way down, throwing a few quick waves to some locals that he must have known. Her body slowed down from the distraction and her eyes followed him. Her eyes flashed back to Kaetus and she could almost see he there at the bar chatting it up with Dutch instead of the turian. There was still no word from Sloane's second-in-command. The more she thought about it, the more she felt used. Discarded like trash. Maybe, the turian had another agenda for her. She thought for sure she could see the look of longing in his eyes when he spoke with her after their skirmish with the kett. Was she only hoping? Then there was Reyes. There were no emails from him lately either. He reminded her before leaving Kadara that a lot was happening on the port that he was dealing with. That could be a reason, but maybe he was done with her as well. Drack was pissed so she felt alone once again. She could almost hear her brother's lecture about how she lets herself fall too easily. It happened every time through every relationship she had. Some things in the Heleus were not going to change for her.

The next morning was a real struggle for Torvi as she moved across Operations to head to Director Tann's office for his scheduled meeting. She woke up late and groggy with a slight headache. The effects of Dutch's drink were more than she realized and she reminded herself to send him a message to tweak the recipe. She felt like her clothes were disshelved as she hastily put them on that morning, nearly tripping over her feet in her quarters. She could imagine the look on her team's face as they saw how much she struggled. This is the same woman that was going to bring stability to the galaxy. A joke. Drack noticed her hurried walk as he was on his way that morning to check in with Kesh. The Tempest was scheduled to leave later that morning. She needed to get back out there and do something. She was impressed that despite the early hour, he seemed very awake and ready to go. "Wow…you're here already?"

"Figured I check in with Kesh before we head out," The krogan replied. "I sit around the ship too much as it is. I need to keep moving. Don't want my bones to lock up."

"You still mad at me?" Torvi asked lightly.

Without hesitation, he responded, "Yes. Not ready to talk yet."

Defeated, Torvi decided not to press the matter this time. "Understood. I need to get on with Tann. Catch you on the ship?"

"Of course." The krogan moved on to his intended destination as Ryder continued her dash to the director's office.

She bypassed the salarian receptionist and skipped a few stairs up to where his office was located. A look of displeasure was on his face. "Pathfinder," He began. The formalities had to come first. "I was beginning to believe you were not going to attend." A reminder of her tardiness.

"Your appointment was…pretty sudden," She reminded him, recalling how she got the notice the night before her in her email after leaving the Vortex.

"No, it wasn't," He plainly answered. "I didn't see your update on Kadara. Have you dealt with Exiles?" A pause. "I disagree on trying to settle there as it is. We do not want their kind with us."

"They are us!" Ryder argued. "They were part of the Initiative."

"They chose to leave," He reminded her.

"Because they had no choice."

The salarian narrowed his eyes and he blinked several times. "I'm beginning to think the Exiles are clouding your judgment," He muttered under his breath. "Too much interaction. We can't have that."

"My job as a Pathfinder is to validate each world for viability."

"Don't you need to activate the vaults like on Eos and Voeld to do that? Has that been done?"

"No," She admitted. Activating the monoliths was her next step since dealing with Sloane was becoming very time consuming. She still had no clue on the identity of the Charlatan and no one would simply setup a meeting with them or the Collective to discuss matters to create a pact of truce. "Activating the vault is only one step in the process. There's more to it."

"I see." His words a complete dismissal of what she was trying to explain to him.

"Then there's Elaaden," She suggested.

"I don't know which one is worse. Dealing with the Exiles or the krogan," He scoffed. "That is up to you. That is why you are Pathfinder."

"I know you don't want me here, Director," Torvi snapped angrily. She could tell the tone that dripped off his words was smothered in remorse and regret.

He blinked with his large eyes. "I never said that, Ryder. You were chosen and now you merely have to live up to your title, like we all do."

Torvi held her tongue. "There's still no updates on the batarian on Elaaden." She decided not to get into a pissing match with the director for the time being. "Morda said he has not entered New Tuchanka."

"Not that I trust the word of Morda," The salarian began, his words bitter. "Let's pray that he's dead and not a concern to the Initiative any longer. Was there anything else?"

Studying him hard, Torvi shook her head. Her dismissal was blunt. After all, he was the one that summoned her to this meeting. Not her. Now she understood why Drack avoided this area of Operations. Unfortunately for her, her job required this. "I guess I'll head back to Kadara."

"I will await your report and I'm thankful for your effort."

"You know pathfind stuff," She grumbled hotly under her breath as she stomped down the steps to leave his office.