XII.
Cora smiles to herself when she feels Scott slip his fingers between hers again as he holds her hand; she lets him lead her slowly around the edge of the audience that has been increasing in size ever since they arrived, all trying to see and hear what the Pathfinder has to say. They move until they are stood towards the back and can get a good view of what is going on in front of them without pushing their way through.
She lets her eyes travel over the backs of the heads in her direct eye line before stepping onto her toes slightly to look over them and towards the podium. As much as part of her didn't want to be here, she knew that the next step in her career depended on what happened next. No matter what had happened with Alec, she needed to be named his second.
"Can you see?" Scott whispers to her and she watches him moving his head to get a better look before glancing at her. Cora just nods her response, she didn't want any more of a good view than this. She wasn't certain she even wanted him to know where she was in the crowd, but he always knew. His eyes always found her, just like hers did with him.
"As much as I want to." Cora whispers back to him and hears him laugh quietly and give her a sympathetic smile. "I wish we were at home." Cora mumbles to no one but herself and sighs, she feels Scott squeeze her hand tightly. "Are you okay?" She mouths to him and he nods, but she is sure his head is still bothering him.
Cora hears loud applause come from the audience, and the air is filled with whoops and cheers as The Pathfinder finally makes his way towards the stage, shaking hands with anyone that offers as he does. She watches as he steps up onto the stage and immediately everything revolves around him again as he stands and takes in the response he is getting. She feels Scott tense beside her; he was just as uncomfortable as her. Cora notices that Alec has replaced his suit with a set of armour, his pathfinder armour that they had worked so hard on together. She can't help think this is a strange choice.
"Why is he suited up?" Scott whispers to her but she just shakes her head and shrugs. "Let's hope he knows how to keep it under control." He adds and Cora nods, Alec was dangerous without his armour and deadly with it and his additional augmentations, and upgrades.
"Thank you.." Alec begins lifting his hands to motion for them to stop cheering, but the smile on his face shows he doesn't mind. "Thank you. I'd like to welcome you all and am happy to see you all here this evening." The Pathfinder smiles again and motions at the props behind him. "We all know this is why we are here, but before we get to that I'd like to say to you all how much I appreciate your patience with us over the last weeks." He nods. "Unavoidable teething problems, but I assure you myself and my team have everything back on track and will be announcing the new A-Day date within the week or two." He nods his head and smiles as the crowd begin cheering and clapping, they didn't care what the teething problems were and that their Pathfinder was losing it.
"Still no date?" Cora whispers to Scott and sees him shake his head lightly and frown, both confused as to why A-Day hadn't been immanently upon them now Alec was apparently better.
Cora lowers her eyes for a moment feeling torn, she wanted to go to Andromeda but she was also wanting to drag out this time she had with Scott as long as possible. She also had to admit that the closer it got, the more nervous she was about being put into stasis.
Cora turns her attention away from Scott and sets her gaze on the Pathfinder, not listening to what he is saying because she knows she has heard him practice this speech for months in their apartment and his lab, and was she was probably able to repeat it word for word. She can't help but watch him though, seeing him standing tall and proud in front of some large projections of maps, spinning planets and images of the golden worlds Habitat 7; their new home.
She feels a wave of sadness hit her when she sees him. She didn't think she would ever be able to forget how he'd treated her, but now there he stood like a proud father introducing the baby she had worked so hard to create too. Their baby, Alec's and Cora's. She wanted to be up there with him but even the sight of him was too much and was making her chest tighten. She wanted to stop loving him and to stop hurting when she saw him.
"Can we go?" Cora whispers and she feels Scott's eyes on her, and knows he's probably noticing that she looks as pale as she feels. She feels Scott lift his hand to her face and turn her face towards his.
"Of course. As long as you sure that's what you want?" He asks her, his eyes inspecting her until she shakes her head lightly. No, she didn't want to leave, she just didn't want to hurt anymore. "Come here," Scott whispers and wraps his arm around her shoulders. "We can get through this." He adds and she feels him kiss the top of her head.
"That's my work too." Cora sighs and she feels him nuzzle his mouth against her hair, she knew he was trying to comfort her. "I worked so hard." She adds with another sigh.
"I know." Scott whispers and holds her tighter, which does make her feel better and she leans her head on his shoulder and wraps her arms around his bicep. "He couldn't have done this without you." He adds and she feels him stroke her hair, hoping that Alec would be too busy with his presentation to break them up this time. "As soon as it's over, we'll head back." Scott adds and she nods.
Cora watches Scott raise his hand to wave at someone across the room, and glances up to see that Commander Raymond is now stood with Sara and she spots that Sara has found her friend that she recognises as Liam Kosta. He was another member of the Pathfinder team, and if the rumours were true, Sara's boyfriend.
"I want to introduce you to him. Do you know who he is?" Scott whispers as she lifts her head from his shoulder and gives her own wave to the two members of their team, and Scott's uncle.
"We've actually met." Cora begins feeling quite happy with herself that even though she hadn't meant to, she'd managed to make some connections recently. The most important one is currently at her side with his arm around her. "Commander Raymond, right?" Cora whispers glancing at Scott and seeing him nod and smile, looking slightly confused as to why she knows that.
"Commander Raymond Ryder, if we are going to be accurate." Scott whispers as he lowers his hand and turns his attention back to her. Cora opens her eyes a little wider in surprise; she hadn't even considered that Commander Raymond was also a Ryder. She had assumed he was Ellen's brother.
"He's Alec's Brother?" Cora whispers watching Scott nod. He had known Alec for a very long time, for over fifty years. He also knew about Cora and Alec's relationship and now Scott, no wonder he had told her it was complicated. "Wow." Cora adds watching the woman in front of them glance at them and begins hushing them, telling them to stop talking. Cora closes her mouth tightly for a beat but she had so much to say to him. "He seems very proud of you. I think you are his favourite nephew." Cora whispers ignoring the death looks she is receiving from the woman in front of her that is making Scott laugh quietly to himself.
"I'm his only nephew." Scott whispers making her giggle lightly, Cora looks at the woman again and mouths her apology. Cora crosses her arms in front of her focusing her attention on the speech again.
She feels Scott lift his hand and place it on her back between her shoulder blades; she glances at him and notices that he is staring at his feet that he is scuffing gently into the floor. He didn't look very happy to be there either and she knew they'd stayed for her benefit, not his.
"You've met a lot of my family for so soon into this relationship, don't you think?" Scott whispers when she feels him lean towards her again and kiss her cheek quickly, making a smile stretch onto her face where his lips land.
Cora smiles and watches him stand up straight when he notices the woman is glaring at them and lowers his hands, he shoves them in his pockets pretending to be paying attention.
"Is that what this is? A relationship?" Cora whispers drawing his attention back to her and his blue eyes onto her face.
Scott was the complete opposite to his father in every way and it was overwhelming for someone that had been starved of real affection for years. This was all very new but he seemed more than happy to share with her how good it could feel to be with someone that cared and show her how it was done.
"I'm not telling you whatever this is or isn't, needs a title. But sure, this is a relationship. Any connection with another person is a relationship, right?" Scott replies making her smile. He seemed to have a way of making things that would otherwise seem very complicated, feel a lot easier and more natural. "Besides, I didn't hear you object to being called me girlfriend last week." Scott whispers, giving her a small smile. He had a point.
"No objections here." Cora whispers hearing him chuckle. "You didn't run a mile when I told you how I feel about you, either." She adds looking straight ahead of her again when she hears another loud applause.
"I told you, I'm all in." Scott smiles "I'm excited to spend my work and home life with you." Cora smiles to herself at his words, it was certainly going to be interesting and yes, very exciting. They were both about to be announced as being on the Pathfinders team. They would be spending 24/7 together.
She glances over at Commander Raymond, seeing that he is watching his brother speak but isn't reacting to what he is hearing. She notices that Sara and Liam are listening intently to what is being said and are clapping politely at the right times, talking between themselves now and then too. Maybe it was right what everyone said about Sara and Alec. Maybe their relationship was slightly better than the one between Alec and his son.
Cora returns her attention to The Pathfinder and hears that he is now discussing what would happen in the first few days after they'd been awoken from cryo and what would happen when they first reached Habitat 7. He was discussing how important the first trip down onto the surface would be.
She watches him take hold of the planet in his hands and enlarge it with a stretching motion; he begins spinning it around to the landing zone that they expected to make their first-ever landing on the new homeworld. Cora knew every reason as to why that LZ had been chosen and that hundreds came before it, that were all dismissed for being not quite right. Yes, he was an asshole, but he was a very thorough asshole.
Cora glances at Scott and sees that he is now watching closely before moving her eyes back to Alec. She feels The Pathfinder's familiar gaze on her and realises that he has spotted them at the back of the audience. Cora lowers her eyes from his, suddenly feeling uncomfortable.
She should have just stayed at the apartment and avoided him altogether. Usually, in difficult breakups you could avoid the person until thinking about them didn't hurt anymore, but this person was going to be spending a lot of time with her and there was going to be nowhere to escape him when they reached Andromeda.
"As you know, I had to reschedule my announcement." Alec nods and Cora feels him watching her still, making her heart pound. "So tonight I am pleased to inform you that I will be announcing my Pathfinder team." He continues and that receives more clapping. "They, along with myself, will be the first of all humanity to set their boots down on the planet that we plan on making our new home, Habitat 7." Alec continues making Cora glance up at him again, she sees him pause for a moment and his hand tighten around the globe.
She can tell by his body language that he is tense and ready to lash out, and she sees the frown appear on his face. He quickly returns the hologram of the planet onto its display stand and turns back to face the crowd.
"Alec looks pissed." Scott whispers making Cora nod lightly, he probably thought his anger was directed at him because Alec had seen them dancing together, but Cora knew why he was irritated.
He'd probably assumed she would have done as he'd asked and talked with him in private as he tried to worm his way back into her life, and she finally decides to obey him. But she was doing neither of those things and now stood with his son.
"I have selected a small team that are the best of the best." The Pathfinder announces receiving another loud round of applause at his words.
Cora could sense the excitement bubbling now that everyone was about to find out who was on the team, but she didn't share their enthusiasm. Alec had informally made his decision months ago but she wasn't feeling so confident that he would be sticking to his word now.
"The team has been training together and individually for months and I can honestly say that the Pathfinder team that I have selected to support me in our first steps on this brave new world are second to none." He adds receiving a positive reaction from the AI members.
"Some more individually, than others." Cora whispers to him making Scott snort at her words, she wondered what excuse he had used for missing all of the training other than not wanting to spend time with Alec.
Maybe Scott had been training with someone else. Cora watches The Pathfinder move to stand with his hands clasped behind his back, military habits were deeply engrained after all of these years.
"Tonight, I was also due to announce who would be my second in command." Alec begins making Cora feel her stomach lurch.
He'd promised her, he'd promised she would be announced his second. Even before they'd got so involved, and she'd got so hurt. This is what it had all boiled down to and Alec knew how important this was to her.
"All Pathfinders select their successor." He nods. "The person that will be expected to carry on their work as the result of the Pathfinder no longer being able to fulfil their duties." Alec continues and she feels his gaze return to her, he nods lightly before lowering his eyes.
"That's you, right?" Scott mumbles and she feels him lift his hand and place it gently on her back making her smile at his subtle declaration of support for her. Cora lifts her shoulders in a small shrug.
"Maybe.." Cora replies turning to look at Scott, she feels his eyes on her and he gives her a small smile trying to reassure her. Cora can't help but let a smile tug at her own mouth, he seemed confident it would be her didn't he?
"Well, you deserve it. But do you want it?" Scott asks making her nod. Maybe she could be on the Pathfinder team, become Alec's second in command and spend time with Scott. It really would be the best of both worlds and she couldn't think of anything better.
"More than anything." Cora whispers as she glances back towards the podium and sees that Alec has witnessed their exchange and seen the way she smiled at him, she is glad he can't hear their conversation but notices he quickly turns his attention away and looks flustered.
"Let's invite my Pathfinder team up here." The Pathfinder announces receiving another round of applause, Cora laughs to herself when she hears it. You'd think Commander Shepard had walked through the door or something from the noise they are making.
"Scott, can you come up here?" Cora diverts her attention away from Alec when she hears his raised voice over the top of the sea of heads and glances at Scott. Why was he singling out his son?
"What is he doing?" Cora whispers to Scott, he just looks at her and shrugs his shoulders; she notices that he looks more annoyed than anything else that he is being called out. "You don't have to go up there." Cora adds watching him look back to The Pathfinder and then to her, he obviously thought he did.
"Come on Scott, don't keep me waiting." Alec adds with a dry laugh that makes Cora's stomach knot. It was the same tone he'd used with her when he'd been threatening to throw Scott out of the airlock all that time ago.
"Scott.." Cora whispers to him and she sees him glance at her. "Please be careful." She adds and sees that he gives her a small smile and nod at this. "He has armour, and he's dangerous."
"I'll be careful." Scott gives her another small smile. "I promise." He whispers and leans to kiss her gently. Cora closes her eyes for a moment, silently praying for Alec not to hurt Scott.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, I know most of you already know my son, Scott Ryder. But for those of you that don't, Scott is going to be one of the first people planetside as a member of my team as our tech and military specialist." Alec continues as he waves his hand in the direction of them at the back of the room.
Cora suddenly feels many sets of eyes turning to look at them both, or more precisely look at Scott. He doesn't shrink beneath their gaze like she does, though. She feels Scott look at her again and give her the best smile he can manage. She reaches for his hand and quickly gives it a hurried squeeze with hers before he steps towards the crowd and begins moving through them, they part to let him to the front.
The Lieutenant glances towards Commander Raymond and gives him a questioning look and lifts her hands as if asking what Alec is up to. Commander Raymond just shakes his head; he looked as confused as she was. When Cora looks back to the stage Scott has almost made it to the front and she can just see the back of his head, she sees people patting him on the back and the shoulders congratulating him for making it onto the Pathfinder team. Part of her wanted to rush onto the stage with him and stand between the Ryder men.
"Come on Scott, we don't have all night." Alec mumbles as she watches The Pathfinder hold out his hand to his son which Scott reluctantly takes and accepts the help up onto the stage, he lifts his foot and takes a large step up onto the podium being tugged up by Alec.
Cora watches Alec drag Scott to him, his hand gripping his son's tightly so that he can't remove it. To anyone else, this would look friendly but she knew otherwise. She sees Alec pull him closer until they are eye to eye and he puts his hand on Scott's shoulder within a tight grasp, gripping his jacket beneath his palm. She watches him lean in and whisper something to Scott for a moment, his eyes fixed on him. Cora sees Scott nod slowly and tries to move away from his father but Alec only tightens his grip on his hand.
"Stand over there." The Pathfinder can be heard lowering his voice but not enough for them not to hear, she watches him let go of Scott who obediently moves away and goes to stand at the other end of the podium.
Cora sighs to herself when she sees Scott move his hands to clasp them behind his back and stand in a way that reminds her of Alec. He lowers his head slightly and remains still and silent, his shoulders somewhat slumped. What had Alec said to him?
Cora waits patiently as The Pathfinder introduces each one of his team and invites them up onto the stage. Liam Kosta; the Pathfinder's security and crisis response specialist, David Fisher; the first pilot that will be delivering them safely to Habitat 7, Sara Ryder; the recon and tech specialist, Dusty Kirkland; the Pathfinder team's weapon specialist, Andrew Greer; the best communications expert the Initiative had, Dr Harry Carlyle; an expert in field medicine and the Pathfinder's medic, and finally Lola Hayes; the local species expert.
Cora watches them all be asked to join him one by one on the podium and to stand at his side, all of them receiving cheers from the crowd as they are introduced and stand with their leader, beaming. She notices that Sara keeps looking sideways at her brother, clearly just as concerned about him as she is.
Cora lowers her eyes for a moment beginning to feel a wave of anger spread from her chest, so she takes a breath trying to calm herself. She was angry that he hadn't announced her; angry that he would be this petty and leave her from his team because of what had happened between them. Cora was exactly the right person for this job and they all knew it.
"My final member of my team." Alec begins making Cora glance up at the stage again. She sees him pause for a moment and cross his arms over his chest as if he is going to draw it out for as long as possible, he was an asshole for doing this to her. "Is my operations specialist, Cora Harper." He adds with a nod fixing his eyes on her. "A woman who uses her skills to get what she wants, at all times." The Pathfinder adds, making Cora shake her head lightly, in disbelief.
She hears that the members of the Initiative begin clapping loudly thinking their leader is just complimenting her but she is sure she can still hear the angry thump of her heart over their noise. Cora sees Scott lift his head and say something to Alec but he is immediately shut down.
"Come up here, Harper." He adds. Was his plan really to drag her up there and humiliate her in front of all these people? Was he really that cruel? What had happened to the man she loved?
"I'm fine here, thank you, Pathfinder." Cora raises her voice so he can hear her, making everyone stop clapping and being whispering between themselves and looking over their shoulders at her. She feels the eyes on her again as a nervous hush fills the room.
"I wasn't asking." The Pathfinder chuckles but with no humour in his voice which makes the people watching begin laughing quietly too, suddenly feeling uneasy but joining in with his jest. "Forgive Cora, ladies and gentleman. She appears to be suffering from stage fright." Alec continues ignoring the mumbling from the crowd. "Come on, Harper. I know you aren't shy." Alec replies turning his attention back to her.
Cora watches, as Scott appears to say something to his father; looking like he is pleading with him, but Alec lifts his hands silencing him. Cora turns her attention to Scott who just shakes his head lightly at her as if telling her not to do as she is being told. Was Alec testing her loyalty like he always did? Or was she going to step onto that podium and be made a fool of?
Cora watches as the people begin moving out of her way, so she gathers herself up and walks through the crowd towards the front of the podium, holding her head as high as she can manage. Cora notices that as she approaches the rest of the Pathfinder team are all smiling and encouraging her to step onto the stage, but that Sara won't meet her eyes and Scott is staring at his shoes. They both knew what Alec was and she had let her feelings for him overlook the truth.
"See, that wasn't so hard." The Pathfinder announces making every around her laugh and setting her teeth on edge, she hated being laughed at and she hated, even more, when it was by this group of self-important bastards. "Stand with the others." Alec lowers his voice and directs to her as she watches him hold out his hand to her. Cora glances down at his waiting palm and then into his face, there was no way she was letting him get hold of her like he had done Scott.
"Cora, go home." Cora hears Scott whisper receiving another sideways look from Alec trying to keep him quiet. "Go." Scott whispers again and Alec huffs at him.
Cora watches as Scott uses the moment that Alec is distracted to quickly steps in front of the Pathfinder and reaches his hand out to her, offering to help her onto the stage. He'd decided that if she was going to be here with them, he might as well be the one to do it. Cora happily places her hand in his and she lets him guide her up onto the podium, she turns to stand with Scott instead of the rest of the Pathfinder team.
Cora knew that Alec would most likely be fuming at her refusal to do as she's told, so she moves to stand at his son's side. She feels him reluctantly let go of her hand but he bumps his shoulder gently against hers. Alec could command her all he wanted when they were on a mission but she wasn't going to let him bully her anymore. Cora glances sideways at Scott who gives her a small smile, but he looked sad.
"I'm sorry, Cora." Scott whispers to her making her reach out and place her hand on his forearm for a moment, she didn't know what he was sorry for but she assumed it was about what Alec had whispered to him when he had first invited him onto the podium. "I didn't mean for this to happen." He mumbles. Cora sets her eyes straight ahead of her again, the lump in her throat that she couldn't swallow down making her feel like she couldn't breathe. Do your worst Alec Ryder. He'd dumped, humiliated, hurt, and been unkind to her. What more could he do?
"I've decided to put my selection of my second, on hold." The Pathfinder announces when she watches him return his attention to his audience. She hears the quiet whispering and sounds of surprise coming from them and feels her heart sink. He was taking her future away from her.
"You promised." Cora hisses to the back of his head, knowing he would be able to hear her. She could feel the anger and hurt building in her again. How could he do this to her? She'd given him everything.
Months of her life for this moment and he was taking it away from her just because he could. He was treating her career just like he had their relationship, promising her the world and tearing it all away at the last moment.
"Alec." Cora whispers her voice wavering slightly. She closes her eyes and squeezes her hands into tight fists trying to control her breathing.
Cora sighs feeling it trying to take over her body and let her biotics flash, but she'd been trained better than this, she was better than unleashing a wave of energy and launching Alec across the room. Even if he did deserve it for breaking her heart, and trying to ruin her career.
"Breathe," Scott whispers quietly to only her, at her side. "Breathe, Cora." He adds and she can tell he has noticed she is trying to control her temper.
Cora shakes her head lightly, she was trying to breathe but the ache in her jaw and the fizz in her temple was telling her she wasn't doing very well. She closes her eyes tightly trying to stop it spreading through her.
"Don't let him win." Scott whispers as she feels him use the tips of his fingers to unclench her fist and take hold of her hand in his.
Cora focuses on the feeling of the warmth of his palm and the gentle movement of his fingers entwined with hers instead of the blue fog in front of her eyes. She can hear people whispering in the crowd at their public display of affection, just as they had done when they'd been dancing together. Cora sighs as she feels her biotics settle, squeezing Scott's hand and wondering what she'd do without him.
"I have narrowed my decision down to two possible future Pathfinder's." Alec continues making Cora open her eyes; she glances at Scott with silent thanks for supporting her, before looking back at the back of The Pathfinder as he continues his announcement. "Cora Harper and Scott Ryder." Alec adds making another round of applause fill the room and Cora feels like the air has been removed from her body.
Scott wanted to be the Pathfinder too? This was news to her. Cora looks at him and sees he appears just as surprised as her; he gives her a puzzled look and shakes his head giving her hand another comforting squeeze.
"No, I don't want it." Scott quickly yells, silencing everyone with his outburst. Alec turns his attention to them when he hears this and she sees that he lowers his eyes to their hands, he narrows his eyes at Scott when he returns to his face "This is supposed to be Cora's job. Not mine. I don't want to be a Pathfinder. This is what Cora wants. She has earned it." Scott continues making her smile lightly to herself, Alec was going to try and break them apart by pitching them against each other.
They'd only known each other a matter of weeks, but Scott was already ready to back her it seemed and that was comforting. But here he was suddenly an opponent she had known nothing about.
"I have made my decision." Alec replies through gritted teeth. "Loyalty is very important to me." The Pathfinder continues as he turns back to the gathered. She wondered if it would be rude to laugh out loud, he had no idea about loyalty.
"Loyalty?" Cora laughs quietly and she is sure she hears Scott huff in agreement, and she notices Alec glares at her over his shoulder.
"So I believe I'll be able to accurately make my decision once we have reached Andromeda and my two possible successors have proved that their loyalty is to me and the Initiative," Alec adds making his audience mumble between themselves before a quiet and slower clap can be heard, they were just as confused but still keen to show support for their Pathfinder.
"This is bullshit." Scott mutters making Alec's attention snap back to his son. Cora thought Scott had every right to be angry but she was feeling devastated.
The succession was supposed to be hers, not Scott's. He clearly didn't want it but how was Alec going to try and make them prove themselves? As much as she wanted this, she didn't want to play his games anymore.
"I'm not listening to any more of this and I'm not proving anything to you." Scott adds and she feels him move towards the edge of the podium still holding her hand in his.
"You are a selfish boy." The Pathfinder mumbles, reaching out his arm to stop Scott jumping off of the stage. "Sara." Alec begins when Cora watches him glance sideways at his Daughter. "Please share with our Initiative friends here the information about the new health-monitoring upgrade in the suits, while I speak to your brother." Alec continues, Cora sees Sara nod her head slowly and turn her attention to the crowd looking like she doesn't know where to start and wishes she had never been asked.
"I have nothing to say to you." Scott replies and Cora sees another flash of anger on the Pathfinder's face. Scott was showing him up in front of everyone and she knew he wouldn't let it slide.
"Scott, wait." Cora whispers, trying to keep him with her and worried that if she lets him go Alec will hurt him. "Please don't let him hurt you." She sighs and holds his hand tighter.
"Stay with Sara." Scott adds turning his attention to her, she watches him lift their hands and press a kiss against her knuckles as he fixes his eyes on her. "Don't let yourself get dragged into this." Scott mumbles making her shake her head; it was far too late for that. She had diverted Alec's anger straight towards him and Alec had ensured that they now had a lot in common.
"This is my fault." Cora whispers to him but she sees him shake his head disagreeing with her, but it was her fault.
Cora knew that she should have walked away and she should have just bent to the Pathfinder's will and kept him from getting angry. Then he would have named her his successor and she and more importantly Scott, wouldn't be being treated like this.
She feels Scott let go of her hand as he steps down off of the stage and onto the floor; she looks over her shoulder at Sara who is just stood frozen to the spot. Cora gives her a reassuring smile and watches Sara nod; she had to keep them interested and distracted from the Ryder family drama that was about to explode in front of them and Cora hoped that Sara knew she would end up going after them and trying to defuse the situation.
Unfortunately, Cora knew that her past with Alec and feelings for him would just add more fuel to the fire than help cool the situation. She watches Sara step forward and all eyes are on Alec's Daughter. The Lieutenant watches Scott weave his way through the crowd and the Pathfinder climb down from the podium and follow closely after him. Cora knew that Alec wouldn't want to make a scene in public and Scott didn't want to hear anything else he had to say.
"I'll go after them." Cora whispers to Sara who nods. "All of you, keep them busy." Cora adds pointing to the rest of the team that all nod in agreement; she wondered how aware they were of the volatile relationship between Scott and Alec and how much of their words they had heard.
Cora climbs off of the stage carefully, holding her dress so that it doesn't trip her as she moves and makes her way through the crowd. She hears Sara begin talking to draw everyone's attention back to her and the Pathfinder team. Cora gives a final glance back and sees that the team, her team, are showing off some augmented blueprints of the new tech upgrades and continuing the best they can without their Pathfinder. Cora sees Scott disappear down a corridor that leads off of this section, and that Alec is close behind him.
"I'm sorry, excuse me." Cora apologises as she moves quickly after them if Alec caught up to Scott she didn't know what would happen, but it wouldn't be good.
She couldn't help but wonder if their arguments would be the same as the ones she had with Ryder Senior where it would get heated but he would manage to talk his way out of it and remain blameless. Maybe there was a lot left unsaid between Scott and Alec, and although they were angry now, maybe they would be able to talk it through and save what was left of their relationship.
"Don't walk away from me, Scott." Cora hears Alec raising his voice slightly when he is sure that they are far away enough from the party and she has almost caught up with them. "I'm doing this, for you." Alec adds making Cora sigh; he had used that line on her so many times.
He would always tell her that he was making decisions or hurting her for her good. He was turning out to be as good of a father to Scott as he was a partner to her.
"I told you, I don't want to hear it." Cora can hear Scott's reply as she steps into the corridor, she can hear the sound of them moving ahead of her and the sound of their feet bouncing off of the otherwise quiet hall.
"You dare to disrespect me in front of my colleagues and my team?" Cora hears Alec raising his voice, his words sounding even louder because everywhere else away from the party is so quiet. "You have been a disappointment to me from the moment you were born!" Alec shouts and she is sure she hears them both stop walking and then the sound of Scott walking back towards his father.
Cora stops in her tracks, she didn't want to intrude and she definitely didn't want to interrupt them, but she was also worried about Scott.
"What did you just say to me?" Cora hears Scott mumble and his footsteps stop where she assumes is close to Alec. "A disappointment? What about the disappointment you turned out to be?" Scott adds making Cora sigh, this wasn't going to clear the air between them at all.
"Your mother wanted a child and we ended up with two." Alec replies and she can hear Scott scoff at his words. "You were nothing but trouble, not like Sara." Alec continues, Cora couldn't believe what she was hearing.
No wonder Scott felt so much resentment towards him if this was how he had been spoken to for all of his life, to tell a child that they were never wanted and always trouble. Poor Scott. She wonders if she should stop this before anything else was said but she was too definitely too involved in both sides to make this easier for any of them.
"You said if I agreed to never to see Cora again, you would still announce her as your second. I agreed, Alec." Scott replies and she is sure she can hear the pain in his voice.
So that is what Alec had said to him, he'd told him if Scott never saw her again she would still get made his successor and he had agreed to the terms. He'd agreed to give her up if it meant she got what she wanted so badly. Did she want to be his second more than she wanted to be happy with Scott? She didn't think so.
"You expect me to believe you will keep your word?" Alec replies sounding like he is getting annoyed with Scott. "I'd turn my back and you'd be in bed together." He huffs.
"If it meant Cora got to be your second, then yes." Scott replies making her smile. She was lucky to have met Scott, someone so willing to do so much for others and make her happy. "Unlike you, I keep my word." Scott adds and she hears Alec huff.
He had to know how bad he was at keeping his word and it sounded like she wasn't exclusively the only person on the list of people Alec Ryder has lied to.
"Look, I know we don't see eye to eye, but none of this is her fault. Punish me, but don't punish Cora." Scott adds she hears his tone lighten as if he is trying to calm the situation and reason with his father. But it was entirely her fault, she had caused all of this and Scott couldn't take the blame for her.
"Fine, you are off the team." Alec raises his voice again making Cora's heart sink when she hears his announcement and she is sure she can hear Scott falter too.
Surely he couldn't do that? He had already made the announcement and he had already assigned him. Alec needed a full team to land on Habitat 7 and he needed his skills and expertise for their first mission. He couldn't just remove him, could he?
"What?" Cora hears Scott's reply is almost a whisper. Cora closes her eyes for a moment; she hoped she never had to see the hurt on his face that she could hear in that reply. "Dad, please.." Scott mumbles. If Alec planned on removing him from the team would he still have his place on the Hyperion? Would she ever see him again?
"I don't need you on my team. I will announce Cora as my second and you can leave." Alec begins in a tone that she knew all too well, he was trying to be assertive and get his own way and he thought he could break Scott. "You've both betrayed me. I can't trust you around her and I can't be in a situation where my subordinates are more loyal to each other than their leader, do you understand that?" Alec mutters and she hears it go quiet as if Scott is contemplating his whole future without the Pathfinder team in it.
Alec was right about one thing though, she didn't think it would take long for her loyalties to shift to Scott but he, unlike Alec, deserved them. Alec had betrayed her and taken her for granted, Scott had done nothing but care about her.
"No, I don't understand. Why does this bother you so much?" Scott replies, his voice quiet. Cora remembers what Scott had told her moments ago, don't let him win. Don't let him win, Scott.
"I won't have you ruin Cora's life like you've ruined your own." Alec replies in a voice that is almost too quiet to hear. "I can't have anyone hurt her." He adds, Cora knowing he was just twisting the knife now.
"Dad.." Scott whispers.
"I'll reach some old Alliance contacts. Have you re-enlisted. You'll have to start from the bottom again, but you've done it before. You can say goodbye to Sara and me before we leave and head to Earth." Alec huffs and she hears what sounds like him pacing slightly.
Cora tries to fight back a sob when she hears his plan for Scott, she wanted to run to him and stop this. He wanted him off of the team and back to the Alliance. That would mean Scott would be left behind while the rest of them headed for Andromeda. Alec would let his own flesh and blood live the rest of his life knowing that, the only people that he cared about had left him behind. Cora would stay too; she wouldn't leave him behind. She wanted Scott, more than she wanted this career, and she knew that now.
"I know that you were together." Cora feels the breath catch in her throat when she hears Scott's words; his voice was calm and cool and the long pause after them makes her think they have thrown Alec off his pace too.
"Don't talk about things you don't understand." Alec growls and she hears a light laugh of disbelief from Scott.
"I should have known really." Scott adds and Cora can almost hear him shaking his head. "Of course she is exactly your type." He adds. "Smart, kind, beautiful, and probably still believing you have a heart somewhere inside you. Do you love her?" Scott asks. Did he mean his mother Ellen?
"Do I love who?" Alec finally sighs sounding frustrated.
"Cora." Scott announces with confidence making her freeze in surprise, wondering if she had heard him correctly or if she was imagining it. Scott's reply was the start of him fighting back, she could hear it in his voice and she hears Alec sigh. "I will take your lack of response, as a yes." Scott adds; making Cora blink back tears that begin to rim her eyes. Scott was a smart man, just like Alec. But Alec didn't love her.
"That has nothing to do with you." The Pathfinder replies through his teeth with words that sound more like a growl. Cora hears Scott laugh lightly; he'd found a weakness in Alec's armour.
"You must at least have some very strong feelings for you to be so angry about us sleeping together." Scott replies and she thinks she hears him shake his head. "Which while we are getting it all out in the open, is becoming a very regular thing." Scott continues making Cora shake her head at his boldness, she wanted Alec put in his place but she didn't want Scott to be hurt and she didn't want him to push him too far.
"Shut up!" Alec shouts.
"Did I hit a nerve?" She hears Scott chuckle again. She knew she shouldn't be listening, this was their business but she couldn't walk away and her feelings for Scott were making her stay. Cora hears the sound of Scott moving again and stepping closer to Alec. "You are pathetic, thinking you can bully your way to the top and treat people like crap. Look at you, Alec." Scott begins raising his voice.
"Don't push me." Alec growls, his voice rising too. Cora knew this could explode at any minute.
"You are nothing anymore and you know it, you were made Pathfinder because of some outdated loyalty to you and things you did over thirty years ago." Scott adds and she is sure she can hear Alec snort at his son's words. "You are a twisted and bitter old man that destroyed the lives of the only people that cared about him, was that not enough for you?" He snaps. He was talking about the whole Ryder family, of course.
"You have no right to speak to me like this." Alec mutters and she can hear what she thinks is him walking away from Scott and turning his back on him, as he always did.
"What right do you have to hurt Cora? I told her whoever it was that hurt her was an asshole and I knew I was right." Scott huffs as she can hear him move to step around Alec and stop him from retreating. "She was heartbroken when I met her, do you realise that?" Cora didn't know if she could listen to much more, Scott was defending her and it was only going to make it worse. "Heartbroken, Dad. How could you do that to her?" He mumbles.
"You are out of order, son." Alec whispers making Cora realise how much Scott's words have gotten to him, but he did deserve it. He was a bully and maybe it was about time Scott stood up to him.
"I'm not your son. You didn't raise me, your brother had to do that for you because you weren't man enough to stick around. You don't give a shit about me or Sara and you don't give a shit about Cora, but I do." Scott replies making Cora smile when she hears her name on his lips. "I care about her." He mumbles and she is sure she hears the sound of him tapping his palm against his chest.
"You don't even know her, not as I do." Alec replies, his voice only just loud enough for her to hear. Was he giving in? Was he finally realising what he had been doing to his family for all those years and to her over the last few months?
"That's where you're wrong." Scott pauses. "I know everything about her because unlike you I want her. Cora is who I want for my future." He adds. "So yeah, kick me off the team. I don't care. I'll ask them to ship me out with the janitorial team and I will mop the floors beneath your feet, old man. But I'll still be with Cora and loving every second of my life with her, and that will be better than watching you stumble around tripping over your ass and leading humanity with no idea what you are doing." Scott laughs, a laugh that she hears comes deep from his chest when it sounds like he realises he would do anything to still go to Andromeda with her. Even mopping floors.
Cora wanted to turn the corner and throw her arms around him and tell him that she'd be mopping the floors right there with him.
"Are you done?" Alec hisses.
"Actually, no." Scott laughs making Cora smile, she hoped this was the end of the exchange between them and that Alec would just walk away and admit that he deserved to be told what an asshole he is.
"I think you are. Get off my ship and you can take Cora with you." The Pathfinder huffs making Scott laugh again, Alec had lost control and she could only imagine how angry he looked knowing that.
"I don't think so. Cora is going to be staying here with me, we are going to enjoying the free bar, and we will be going back to our apartment together and there is nothing you can do to stop us. You will leave her alone, and you are never going to threaten her with her career again or I swear to you, one Ryder to another, that I will end you."
"You are such an embarrassment, Scott." Cora hears Alec announce making Scott laugh another dry laugh, he probably couldn't believe that his father was still trying to fight back.
"Do I look like I care, Alec? Your reign of terror ends tonight. Do you think you can tear people apart and rule their lives? Not anymore. I'm not a child anymore and if you even look at us the wrong way, including Sara, we will have you left on one of your precious golden worlds and see how well you do then." Scott announces and she hears it go quiet again. Maybe they had finished and Alec would retreat to the party now.
Cora strains her ears but hears that both of them have gone quiet and there are no more words being exchanged between them. She decides that if there was ever going to be the right moment for her to interrupt this, it would be now.
Cora continues to walk down the hallway and turns the corner as she sets eyes on the pair. Alec has his back to them and is stood with a hand pressed against his face, his head lowered. Scott is stood with his arms folded across his chest, his eyes fixed on The Pathfinder as if he is expecting him to try and have the last word.
"You are a child." Alec mumbles and she sees him slide his hand up to pinch the bridge of his nose.
"Speak up, Alec." Scott snorts. Cora steps closer and her movement catches Scott's attention, he glances up at her and gives her a small smile. He holds his hand up telling her not to get any closer, just in case. "If you have something more to say, just fucking say it." Scott adds.
"Stop threatening me, be a man and do something about it." Alec snaps and Cora immediately sees the anger and rage that he is holding inside and it is completely directed at Scott and not her for a change is about to be unleashed.
Cora watches as Alec quickly moves from where he stands and launches himself at Scott, catching him off guard with his abrupt movement. Cora hears a warning leave her lips but it is not quick enough before she can move between them The Pathfinder has wrapped his hand around Scott's throat and backed him up so quickly against the wall that it has knocked his son off balance.
Cora sees the look of surprise in Scott's eyes and his hands fly to his father's wrist trying to force his grip away from his neck. Cora sees Alec lift Scott of off his feet as if he weighs nothing at all and hold him high against the wall, Scott's face beginning to redden unable to breathe. There was no way a man of Alec's age, even in his good condition, could do that with one arm and so little exertion. He was using his SAM augmentations and his armour. She watches at Scott begins pulling at Alec's hand trying to release his fingers from his throat, his legs lifting to try and kick at his father and free himself.
"Put him down, now!" Cora screams, hurling herself toward Alec and running shoulder first into his trying to knock him away from Scott.
Alec lifts his hand and brushes her away with no effort at all and sends her flying backwards, her heel covered feet skidding against the carpet as he does. His actions make her falter, he wasn't a biotic but he was using something man-made to aid him.
"Just as I thought, you are weak Scott." Alec spits receiving a strangled sound from Scott, he was going to kill him and he seemed to be enjoying it. "And here is your new love, Scott. Coming to save you from the beating you so deserve. I should just end you." Alec whispers bringing his face closer to Scott's.
Cora hears Scott thrashing still trying to free himself but Alec's fist cutting off his oxygen is quickly weakening him until he begins to go limp and stop struggling.
"Scott, close your eyes." Cora shouts urgently, she sees Scott's eyes pleading her to help him and knows she has to stop Alec. He closes his eyes tightly but she sees he is close to losing consciousness. "Take your hands off of him." Cora cries as she steps back from them and focuses on the sound of her breathing.
She feels the energy spreading from her toes, to the tips of her fingers and into her head as she draws on every bit of power she has in her body. She hears herself scream as she unleashes a huge wave of biotic energy towards the Ryder's. She feels the white heat burning deep in her chest as it hits them and sends Alec flying sideways across the room and Scott slides down the wall and lands in a heap on the floor.
Cora hears Scott take a large gulp of air as she feels the tight band that is attached to the energy that she has released, reaches its tightest point before it begins returning to her. Cora feels the waves of energy retreating into her body and the blue glow dimming, she glances over at Alec and sees that he is attempting to pull himself to his feet and then to Scott who is laying on his back on the floor trying to take deep lungs full of air.
"Scott.." Cora whispers as she feels her legs buckle beneath her and she knows she has done too much. She watches as Scott hears her words and tries to scramble towards her, attempting to catch her before she hits the floor but it all goes dark.