MASS EFFECT ANDROMEDA: HOLLOW WORLDS

CHAPTER 25

"Addison dispatched the team down to start the outpost," Vetra grabbed Torvi's attention as she exited the lift from the slums. "Exciting, huh? I'll see what strings I can pull around here to send supplies quickly to their location."

"Great, keep me posted," Torvi tried her best to remain happy about the news as she continued her route towards Sloane's headquarters, but the events that unfolded on the badlands played over and over in her mind. It all happened so fast. Why didn't Reyes tell her what he planned? Giving her a chance to mull over what choice to make. Have him explain his side. His secrecy about everything angered her. He forced her to takes sides. After his assault on Kaetus, why would he even have the audacity to believe that she would willing choose him over Sloane? Her head spun and all she could think about was checking on the turian's condition to make sure he was going to pull through. With the limited details given, she had no idea if he was taking his last breaths or not.

"You're going to see him, aren't you?" Nyx softly called to her. Torvi's hesitation in her steps gave away her answer. "Sloane has been giving Reyes' execution order before she made it back here. Look, Ryder, I'm sorry- "

"Don't," Torvi stopped her with her fists clenched at her sides. She compressed the rage of emotions inside of her. "Reyes was not the man he posed to be. I fell for it. Right now, I need to make sure Kaetus is okay." She inhaled sharply before moving along. Mental preparation was needed to face what was next. She ignored the chattering among vendors and exiles as she entered the headquarters. A salarian standing by a side room motioned her to him. The majority of his skin tone was pigmented to be a sea green and there were a few splotches of cerulean blue just above his eyes.

"Sloane told me to grant you access when you arrived." He opened the door to reveal the small quarters where Kaetus was being housed. He was lying on a cot with a few bandages on his face. Whelps and contusions were all over his body from the beating he endured. One of his eyes was still swollen shut. He slowly turned his head to look at his guest.

"Who the hell is it?" He grumbled as he squinted from the light that poured into the darkened room.

"Torvi," Ryder moved quickly to his side and knelt down on her knees to clasp his right hand. The turian quickly jerked away.

"Go away, Pathfinder."

The salarian shut the door giving them privacy. Torvi stared at the turian in confusion. "I didn't do this. I had no idea that Reyes was the Charlatan."

"I believe you," He winced as he shifted his body slight on the cot, his arm favoring his side. "Heard you let him get away." He glared sharply.

"His back was to me," Torvi protested her actions. Trying her best to cover up the true reason why she didn't take the shot.

"I would have shot him multiple times in the back," The turian hissed.

"I'm honorable."

"You are naïve. You wouldn't last on Kadara," Kaetus chuckled in amusement. He coughed and winced sharply from the pain in his ribs, still nursing his one side. "Fuck!" He yelled from the excruciation.

Torvi looked on remorsefully. "This shouldn't have happened to you. I'm sorry, Kaetus."

"Reyes really thought he could get to Sloane through me," Kaetus shrugged off the apology. "That was his mistake. Heard he had a sniper there too. He lets everyone else get their hands dirty." He looked up at the room's ceiling and scoffed. "Do you know how many executions I did?"

"You did them for Sloane though." Torvi argued pointedly.

The turian eyed her questioningly. "You taking his side?"

Regret consumed Torvi and she hung her head in absolute guilt. The truth flooded her mouth wanting to break free. She had to tell him. "Reyes used me to get to you. He has been watching us."

"Jealous, is he?" Kaetus chuckled painfully again.

"You could say that. I have been with him too, Kaetus," She frowned. "Before you."

"You know once I'm out of here, I'm going to kill him," The turian said matter-of-factly. "I'll let Sloane sever his head if she wants to, but I will make sure I'm the one that kills him."

Torvi cringed at his statement. "Kaetus, you are in no shape to be out there," She urged gently. "What if you get ambushed again by the Kett?"

"I don't need your pity. You won't be able to hide him. Sloane will find him."

"I'm not going to hide him!" Ryder spat angrily. Furious that he would just assume that she still had feelings for Reyes. "He means nothing to me." Lies. Deep down, she still was hurt and she ached for Reyes. The falling out was so abrupt that she didn't have time to really cope with it.

Kaetus grew quiet as he mulled over what she was saying. Torvi defeatedly rose up from her position and stared down at him. "What does this make us?" Her voice cracked.

The turian turned his head away to avoid any direct eye contact. "There was nothing between us, Pathfinder. I told ya that. I look after Sloane and I should have been there for her."

Tearing up, Torvi moved towards the room's door and paused at the control. She looked back over. He didn't move. She recalled the fear in Sloane Kelly's eyes when she gave Ryder the news of the assault. There was something there for the turian. She wasn't quite sure if it was in fact love, but there was something. Ryder was the outsider and whatever she had with Kaetus was just a fling. A short attraction. She needed to move on. Her feet remained frozen in place. An unknown force seemed to hold her there against her will, aching for her to go back to him and confess all her. She resisted fiercely. "Sloane cares about you, Kaetus. Make sure she takes care of the outpost." Forcing herself to exit the room, she kept her head down to avoid any eye contact with the waiting salarian outside. Ignoring her job duties to check on the installation of the outpost, a keystone in goals, Torvi moved hastily to the Tempest. She needed to get away. Just off the port. A glimmer of hope remained inside. Hope that Reyes would have snuck onboard and would be waiting for her in her quarters. As much as she despised or hated that man, she still cared for him. She wondered where he was. Was he thinking about her as well?