People had started to get suspicious about Evfra and Ryder's secret meetings. When Ryder was on Aya, the two of them disappeared for hours.

These meetings actually consisted of the two of them lip-locked during most of their time together. They hadn't gone beyond kissing and above the clothes touching. That was more at Evfra's behest than Ryder's.

In fact, whenever Ryder tried to nudge it forward, she was rebuffed every time and it started to hurt. She didn't expect a sex life straight away, but she wanted to feel his hands on her skin.

She didn't understand why he was so resistant to her advances. She decided to ask Jaal to see if she could gain some clarity. She found Jaal in his normal place in the Tech lab, working hard on his latest project. "Jaal, can we talk about something personal?"

"Of course, Ryder."

Ryder leant against one of the glass partitions. "Do Angara have low sex drives?"

"What I understand, they are pretty on par with a Humans. Why do you ask?"

Ryder sighed and dropped herself into a chair. "Evfra and I have….we are….I don't actually know what we are. We spend a lot of time kissing but every time I try to nudge it along, he recoils at the idea of touching me sexually."

"Angara have high sex drives, but we tend to only have sex with people we share an intimate connection with."

"So Evfra doesn't feel any sort of connection with me." That actually hurt Ryder quite deeply. "It's nice to know that I'm just a distraction."

"Ryder…." Jaal called out to her as she rushed out of the tech lab. "That's not what I meant! Skkut!"

Jaal felt horrid after his chat with Ryder. She left the Tech Lab on the verge of tears and he felt responsible for it. He didn't know what Evfra's intentions were towards Ryder, but his lack of real intimacy towards Ryder would have been a bad sign to Angaran female.

To: Evfra

From: Jaal

Subject: Ryder

Evfra, you have a problem by way of Ryder.

She came to me asking about why you kept spurning her sexual advances and I'm afraid I may have made the situation worse.

She left thinking that you have no intimate connection with her, and she is hurt by it.

Fix it!

To: Jaal

From: Evfra

Subject: You skkutting idiot!

How many times do I have to tell you; STOP INTERFERING!

Evfra was sat at dinner with his mother and three sisters, absolutely fuming. Jaal just never knew when to shut his mouth and keep it shut. Of course he felt an intimate connection to Ryder. He counted down the days to when he could see her again. The only reason why he was reluctant to make their relationship sexual because he was unsure of her feelings for him, and he was too afraid to ask.

"Are you ok, son?"

"No." He huffed.

"Is it about the rumours with the Human?"

"Etta. At least have the decency to use her name."

"They arent rumours, are they?" Evfra's mother could sense something was bothering and she wanted to know what it was. "So, what is the matter?"

"We have grown closer, but I rebuffed her sexual advances. Now Jaal has led her to believe that I have no intimate connection with her. She is hurt."

"So why spurn her?" One of his sisters asked.

"I am unsure how she feels about me." He admitted.

"Why would she be hurt if she felt nothing for you?" Another sister suggested.

Evfra hadn't thought of it like that. Without a word, he left the house and headed back to headquarters for some peace and quiet.

He had come to adore Ryder. She was on his mind frequently and he looked forward to her visits, but he never expected it to grow as it had. He was falling in love with her, but he held back because he was unsure, but he wasn't even certain about what he worried him.

To: Etta

From: Evfra

Subject: I miss you

When can you get some rest time? I want to take you to explore more of Aya.

There is somewhere I think you will like, and I would like us to spend a night together.

I think there has been miscommunication between us and for that, I shoulder the blame.

I adore you and I will be waiting for you to return.

Please be careful when you infiltrate the Archon's ship.

Ryder read his message over and over again, just absorbing his words and the feelings within them. He missed her, adored her and it made her more eager to return to Aya. His arms were waiting to wrap around her, and she needed that security. He was a safe place.

To: Evfra

From: Etta

Subject: I miss you too

I will see if I can get some time. Now we have found the Turian and Asari Pathfinders, it shouldn't be an issue.

I'm curious about what you have to show me, and I'll enjoy the time to show you my adoration to the fullest.

I'll report back after we visit the Archon.

Jaal and the crew were absolutely fuming angry because of what Ryder did on the Archon's ship. They couldn't believe she would be so stupid to allow SAM to stop her heart. It took SAM three attempts to restart her heart and for a moment, Jaal and Vetra were convinced that Ryder couldn't revived.

Jaal sat at his desk in the Tech Lab angrily typing out a message to Evfra. He knew Evfra would be furious with Ryder and maybe he could convinced her not to do something so stupid again.

To: Evfra

From: Jaal

Subject: Ryder…..

Ryder allowed SAM to stop her heart.

We are angry beyond measure.

It take long with Evfra to reply back and Jaal could feel his anger burning fiercely.

To: Jaal

From: Evfra

Subject: Ryder!

SHE DID WHAT!