Mass Effect Andromeda Hollow Worlds:

Chapter 26

Four hours of sulking in her quarters on the Tempest and Torvi found herself once again on the streets of Kadara Port. The scenery varied differently in that short span of time. Familiar faces vanished. Those that she recognized as recruiters for the Collective no longer lingered off to the sides, eying her cautiously. Instead, Sloane's people roamed the street, more in numbers. Either those pledged allegiance to the Charlatan aka Reyes Vidal went into hiding or were already rounded up by Sloane. A few curt nods to acknowledge her presence were tossed her way from Kelly's men as they watched her walk by. Signs of approval and gratitude. Torvi felt ill. Less angaran were around. Was this the fate of the outpost? Taken over by Sloane Kelly at some point and enforced to her rule? There would be more military deployed out of cryo, but their resources were preserved to battle against the Kett. Apex missions were increasing as Kandros lined up critical missions. A garrison all the time was hard to come by. Tann pressured her to establish outposts and she achieved that goal. A part of her wanted to unconcern herself about safety. That was up to Colonial Affairs, but deep down, she knew she could not just feed these people to the wolves.

Saving Sloane's life was a huge bartering chip. She could play this move too many times till the event with Reyes would be only an afterthought. Kralla's Song was where Drack told her to meet him at. His message sent an hour ago appeared to be more of a demand than a request. Then again, it was hard to tell with Krogan. Words were never their strong suit. She came to the conclusion that he wanted to hash it out about her choice of Raeka over his scouts. He sure knew how to time things. With her current mindset, she wondered if the meeting was a bad idea. Still, it had to be done and pushing him off may only provoke him. The familiar beat of the bar pounded through the metal doors and blared as she opened the door. One of Sloane's men, a turian, was manning the door and noted her arrival. Glancing quickly over at him, she walked down the steps to the bottom floor that housed the main bar. Drack's back was to her and an unconscious male was slumped on the floor at his massive feet. Cocking an eyebrow, Torvi wondered what transpired before she got there and who the poor bastard was down below, out cold. Drack remained casual as he took in his beverage that Umi served him. Unaware yet of her. Never a dull moment with a krogan it seemed.

The hours were growing late as the pair exited Kralla's Song. Their stomachs filled with snacks and beer. Torvi felt her head swimming and throbbing. Majority of it was to blame of the alcohol that the krogan talked her into. The other part was the punch she sustained during a bar fight that enthralled minutes after she began to speak with him. Drack told her that the meeting was a chance to clear the air between them. Strangely, he seemed sympathetic to how she was feeling. His words were wise and uplifting. He told her how he heard what happened with Reyes and the choice she had to make. Either side was probably the wrong choice, but he commented that he never did trust people that liked to rule from the shadows. In hindsight, she knew he was probably right. Reyes never held out his cards and manipulated her more than once. She was blind to see it. She allowed her feelings for him block any commonsense. Then she was even stupider to fall for Kaetus. Some turian that was on Sloane's payroll who seemed to use her for a thrill. Torvi felt low. She was the Initiative's Pathfinder. She was humanity's Pathfinder. People looked up to her and yet she was messing around with a smuggler and an exile. Her dad and mother would be disappointed. It seemed like she still didn't mature from the Milky Way. She continued to allow her heart to become too involved with those she hardly knew and going to bed with them was always the path. If her brother was there, he would give her some big lecture. He should have been the Pathfinder, not her. "I needed this, Drack. Thanks," She broke the silence through the cooler night air that took over the port. They were practically the only ones out there save a few guards.

The krogan didn't eye her as he walked. "Anytime. Figured you needed a few rounds. Booze always seem to help me."

"Drack, I'm sorry again for- "With the tension released, she wanted to discuss what happened on the Ark Paarchero.

"Save it," He cut her off quickly. "I know you have reasons on what you did. Those scouts mattered to me," His voice rumbled. "Shit. Let's just drop it. I'm already getting pissed thinking about it."

Torvi lowered her eyes sadly. A touchy subject and one that she would never be able to rectify she believed. "Got it." The air got thicker and colder as the tension build back up. A barrier between the two. The bar fight was invigorating and for once she felt like they were clicking. A soft smile spread across her purple lipstick covered lips. "Drack, about this meeting?"

Her thought process was interrupted as a pair of salarians moved out of an alleyway to their right. In their long slender fingers were sharp blades. "Hold it right there, Pathfinder, "The salarian on the left hissed threateningly. His skin shade was a lavender color with red undertone. The other, a female, was more of a soft coral hue. Torvi didn't recognize them to be among the group that tried to bust up her meeting with Drack in Kralla's Song. Those poor souls were still nursing the bruising inflicted upon them among other injuries.

Torvi stopped when she noticed the weapons they were wielding. "And you are?" She was still coming off her high from the previous fight so just two salarians were not that threatening to her.

Drack was also not amused. "Look, snacks," He licked his lips hungrily. "I could use a good meal for once."

"We are part of the Collective that still resides on Kadara. You have no idea what you did by taking Sloane's side," The female salarian accused with her weapon poised.

Ryder rolled her eyes. "Same old bullshit." She glanced over at Drack with her hand on her hip. "I'm blaming you, Drack, for dragging me back out here."

"You seem like you can handle them," The krogan crossed his arms with a playful wink. "Only two of them."

"Thanks," Torvi grumbled as she redirected her attention back to the salarians. "Okay, let's get this over with. Who wants to go first?"

Her reaction confused the salarians and they blinked at one another. Finally, the female took point and leaped to gain more distance. Just as her body was inches away, there was an explosion of gunfire. The salarian's body contorted violently as the rounds pummeled her light body armor and she collapsed to the ground, dead. A pool of dark blue blood trickled out from underneath the body. The male didn't have much time to react to the gruesome display as he too took on heavy fire. His torso riddled with holes and he dropped to his knees then face down on the ground. Torvi unholstered her pistol and spun around on her heel, silently cursing herself to be there in casual attire. If they were up against that much fire power, she didn't have a chance without any armor or shields. Two male turians and a male human stood there with their assault rifles still raised at the dead salarians. Their body armor coordinated one another; their color scheme easily identifiable as Sloane's men. The turian in the center spat at the corpses. "Good riddance."

"Why did you do that?" Torvi kept her pistol trained on them. Drack was holding his shotgun as he eyed the other two. At least he was donning his battle master armor. The only thing she ever saw him in. One reason why he managed to stay alive over a thousand years.

The turian cocked his head in disbelief at her question. "We are hunting down the Collective. These two were stupid enough to come out of hiding."

"Yeah, heard you help take down Reyes Vidal," The other turian jeered in amusement. "Glad that bastard got his ass handed to him."

"You didn't have to kill them like that," Torvi argued with disdain.

The male human shrugged as he lowered his weapon. "Our orders are from Sloane. Not the Initiative." He motioned for the others to follow him away from the scene. "Let's go hunt more down." The trio chuckled as they walked away.

Torvi glared at them with fire in her eyes. She kept her pistol raised, aimed at their backs as her hand shook, her finger on the trigger. She wanted to fire on them and return the favor for their cruelty. The salarians were not much of a threat and she could have easily disarmed them, knocked them out or sent them scrambling. Drack placed his left hand gently on her forearm and slowly lowered it. "Not worth it."

Disgusted, Torvi holstered her sidearm and looked back over at him. "What a bunch of assholes." She couldn't bring herself to look at the dead bodies in front of her.

"Addison better lock it down for a while." Drack commented as he surveyed the area to make sure there were not any more surprises lurking around.

"I agree. Let's just get to the Tempest and get the hell off this station." Torvi sighed heavily. The cross she had to bear was starting to really taking its toll on her. The weight on her shoulders was pressing down.

"I'm going to miss this place," The burly krogan mused alongside her.

"Oh?"

"Umi knew how to keep the drinks flowing."

Ryder giggled at the comment and she smiled his way. "Is this what all dates are like with krogan?"

"Hmm? Nah, not enough carnage." He shook his head.

"I think I can find plenty out on Elaaden." Ryder suggested. "You still needed to go there, right?"

"Yeah, but Morda is more dangerous than Sloane. Believe me."

"I thought krogan were not afraid of danger." Torvi felt the breeze blowing harder as they walked out onto the docks. The place was lit up brightly and the Tempest glimmered in the darkness.

"We need to be careful around her. Morda taking over the colony is not good."

"Yeah, but we won't have to worry about any other self-proclaimed groups like the Collective," She made a face.

"Scavengers are outside New Tuchanka, salvaging what they can find. A few of my scouts dealt with them before they were captured by the Kett." He paused, slighting her again for the ark fallout. "Nothing we can't handle. Pain in the ass if anything."

Torvi stopped to look at him, her braids gently tussling in the breeze. Steps away from the Tempest. She found herself struggling to depart the port. She had no idea where Reyes went and Kaetus shut her out. She wondered if Reyes was hoping she would stay around so he could get a message to her. Then again, why would she want to see him? Drack picked up on her silence. "You okay, Ryder? I told Umi to ease up on the alcohol."

"You ever been in love, Drack?"

The old krogan shook his head from side to side. "Never was. Had a few mates, but never really stuck around. Better that way."

"Really? You have any kids?"

He shrugged. "If I do, I haven't seen them. May have killed a few."

She gaped at his comment. "That's awful."

"Being a pirate or merc doesn't give you the choice. Fighting happens." He stopped and eyed her carefully. "This is about that Reyes shit?" He sighed. "Let it go, kid."

"I shouldn't have let it happen," Ryder angrily stated as she suppressed the tears forming in her eyes, clenching her fists.

"You are better off this way. I hate to say it. Reyes used you. As for the turian, well, I could have told you about he and Sloane." He chuckled. "I may be old, but I'm not blind. Saw them a few times when he left her place when I came here before you were around."

Torvi frowned. "I guess I'm just a sucker."

"No. You're not centuries old like me."

Ryder allowed herself to smile gently at his words. She never thought she would be coming to him of all people to confide in about her problems. She could relax and just be herself. Leaning over, she gently kissed him on the left cheek. "Thank you, Drack."

The motion totally caught him off-guard and he just stayed in place, looking at her. "You trying to make me blush, kid?"

"Maybe," She teased playfully. "Did it work?"

"Krogan don't blush."