Author's Note:

Let's not speak about how long I've been gone. Instead, let's focus on what's happening now... I am back. And, I am testing the writing waters with this ME Andromeda story. This is a 4 part story, so expect two more chapters.

As always, thank you to those who read, Fav, Alert and/or Review! Your interest and feedback are greatly appreciated and motivate me in the most brilliant of ways.

Oh... one last note... I am sending out a BIG thank you to Lyaksandra, my beta reader, who once again graciously volunteered her time to proof this story, correct grammatical errors and offer suggestions to make the story flow more smoothly. Having you in my writing corner is a godsend. Thank you.

Chapter 2

Sara pursed her lips as she twisted slightly, scrutinizing her profile and wardrobe choice one last time in the full-length mirror. Light brown Elysian twill trousers, a white scoop-neck, short-sleeved shirt, a well-worn pair of brown leather boots and her favorite hooded bomber jacket, a vintage shade of chestnut.

Overall, she was happy with the look. Not that she had many outfit choices to sift through. Travelers on the six hundred year sleeping voyage to the Andromeda system were given a limited amount of storage space for personal gear.

She slipped her thumbs in the waistband of her pants, then glanced at her figure in the mirror again. The clothes fit a little looser than she remembered. The long journey to a new galaxy coupled with months of high adrenaline activities as Pathfinder had reshaped her body.

Not that she was complaining. She was undoubtedly in the best shape of her life, though being chased down by Rem-Tech, the Kett and various indigenous creatures was not the sort of exercise routine she would have ever envisioned for herself. Nor was it one that she would recommend to anyone. Well, maybe to Tann, just so he could get knocked off his sanctimonious high horse for a minute or two.

[Sara, you are scheduled to meet Suvi in the cargo bay in five minutes.]

"Five minutes?!" Sara squeaked.

Her eyes quickly scanned the room looking for anything that she may need for the night. For the date. For her date.

For her date with Suvi.

"Thanks for the reminder, SAM."

[I am registering a sharp increase in stress hormones flooding your blood stream. Your adrenal gland is unusually active—a response normally linked to anxiety-provoking situations. I have only recorded levels this high before engaging in combat.]

The Pathfinder glanced down at her hands which suddenly felt sweaty. "Well, I think it's safe to say that I am a little nervous."

As she dried her hands on her trousers, Sara returned her gaze to the reflection in the mirror, giving it one last assessment. The everyday look of smoky eyeshadow and natural lip-gloss with her hair pulled back into a ponytail would have to do.

"Why did I take so much time in the shower?" she grumbled, shaking her head, as she left her room in a rush. "I should have scrubbed quicker, washed my hair faster, not debated so long on what clothes to wear. I barely have any clothes as it is! Ugh… I'm such an idiot, SAM."

[If I may suggest, carbohydrates have been known to calm down the mind as they release serotonin in the brain.]

"Wait. What? Seriously?" Not wanting to be late, Sara hastened her pace through the ship's corridor, heading towards the cargo bay.

[All carbohydrates, such as rice, pasta, potatoes, and breads, have been described as comfort foods, because they can act as a mild tranquilizer on the body.]

"I should know that. Why don't I know that?"

[You are well-versed in microbiology and nutritional influences of food, though in your current condition, your higher brain functions are impaired.]

"Impaired?" Sara barked, suddenly concerned that she wouldn't be able to interact with Suvi like a normal human… or alien for that matter. "What do you mean by 'impaired'?"

[You are anxious and distracted.]

"Of course I am!" Passing through the research room, Sara scanned the area making sure it was empty before exclaiming, "I'm about to go on my first date in over 600 years!"

[Then perhaps a nutritional aid would be helpful.]

"Nutritional aid?"

[Carbohydrates.]

Sara stopped abruptly, her rapid course through the Tempest bringing her to the intended destination.

"Drug myself with food," she whispered, her eyes alight with impish understanding.

[Yes, Pathfinder.]

Smiling brightly, she said, "I can do that. Thanks for the suggestion, SAM."

Then, the cargo bay doors opened.

_/\_

Suvi hated being late. She felt time was a valuable commodity, but her disdain for tardiness had less to do with time's worth and more to do with keeping a promise. Agreeing to meet someone or a group of people was like entering into a contract, one in which she gave her word that she could be counted on to arrive at the designated time.

To be late felt like a negative reflection on her dependability, and now, more than ever before, being seen as dependable had great significance. She didn't always feel so intensely about being on time, but Andromeda changed her outlook.

Andromeda was a strange, unfamiliar place of new beginnings and for people to feel safe - for the colonizing to succeed - they needed to know that those around them were reliable. That they were trustworthy. That they were dependable. Or perhaps Suvi was just projecting and in truth those were things that she needed to feel in order to believe the Andromeda initiative could succeed.

Either way, she hated being late. Which was why she showed up in the cargo bay five minutes early and was able to see Sara Ryder walk through the door at the specified time.

Suvi smiled at the Pathfinder's punctuality.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, she admired the younger woman's new attire. Whether outfitted in armor or uniform and a hoodie, the Pathfinder, with her platinum blonde hair and clear blue eyes, always had a striking appearance, but in this moment, dressed in her own casual clothes, she looked extraordinarily sharp.

"I like that jacket," the scientist said admiringly.

Sara immediately turned toward the redhead and smiled brightly. "Thanks!" Then after a beat, she added, "Whoa… you look different."

Arching a questioning eyebrow, Suvi admitted, "I can't tell if that's a good thing or a bad thing."

"Are you kidding?" Sara sputtered as she stepped next to her date. "You look … wow!"

Suvi crossed her arms in front of her chest and lowered a challenging gaze at the younger woman. "Sara," she stated, matter-of-factly, "we see each other every day."

"True, but I've never seen you in anything other than your uniform." Sara's eyes roved over the redhead from head to toe, noting how the white denim pants hugged every curve and how the turquoise color of her long-sleeved, collared shirt enhanced the natural shade of her eyes. Slack-jawed, she muttered, "You look amazing."

"So that time in the showers..." Suvi said innocently.

"What?!" Sara's eyes popped opened in panic as she involuntarily took a step back from the scientist. "No! I would never… That isn't even…"

Suvi's hand covered her mouth, stifling a laugh. "Relax, I'm just teasing you."

The Pathfinder's shoulders sank in relief, happy to know that her date wasn't starting off with an awkward exchange on breaches of privacy.

Catching a notification on her omni-tool, she gestured toward the cargo bay door, silently indicating to the scientist that it was time to head out.

"Seems inevitable, though," Suvi suggested as they began crossing the room toward the control panel. "If you ask me."

Sara frowned in confusion. She wasn't quite sure where the scientist was leading the conversation. "What seems inevitable?"

The redhead chuckled softly. "Five people sharing the same shower room? We're bound to see each other naked."

"That's what the schedule is for!" Sara exclaimed, looking somewhat aghast.

Once they arrived at the control panel beside the cargo bay door, Suvi tapped a few buttons. As it began to open, she turned to Sara. "All I'm saying is that we're lucky the rest of the crew doesn't use the showers regularly. Except after we've been on Eos."

The Pathfinder made a face. "Yeah. Even with suits the sand from that planet gets everywhere."

Suvi visibly shivered as she imagined the various places where granules of sand could hide on a human body. "There are times when being allocated to the ship is a benefit."

"I understand what you mean about some design aspects though," Sara remarked as they began their journey down the ramp. "This is an amazing ship, but in terms of personal hygiene, one shower room for the whole crew?! What were those engineers thinking?"

"It's a classic example of the gap between development and operations," the scientist explained. Then, she stopped abruptly. After Sara turned back to see why she had stopped, the redhead pointed her index finger at the younger woman. "And if you bring that up to Kallo, I will emphatically deny saying such a thing."

Sara laughed. "It's nice to know where you stand."

Continuing her trek down the ramp and overtaking the younger woman, Suvi quipped, "I find that being forthright leaves little room for doubt."

Sara took a few quick steps to catch up. "Are you always forthright?"

"Why?" the scientist inquired, sounding mischievous. "Is there something you want to ask?"

Most of the conversations Sara had shared with the Scotswoman onboard the Tempest were linked to ongoing missions, ship reports or the occasional commentary on personal history. None of them offered the chance to experience the full breadth of wit and charm in the scientist's arsenal. Sara truly enjoyed seeing the redhead's spunky, playful side.

Giving Suvi a sidelong glance, she shrugged. "Maybe."

When they stepped off the ramp, the Pathfinder tapped a few commands into her omni-tool and the cargo bay door began to close. "So… do you give out rainchecks on that forthrightness?"

Suvi's gaze met the younger woman's, then a brazen smile played on her lips. "Guess you'll find out when you decide to ask your question."

_/\_

"You brought Suvi?" Vetra crossed her arms in front of her chest and stared down at the Pathfinder.

Sara returned Vetra's stare. "Yeah."

"You brought Suvi to a trade negotiation?"

"Yeah."

"You, the Pathfinder, brought a science officer to a trade negotiation that could be THE key to establishing a successful colony on Kadara?"

Unblinking, Sara asked, "Is that a problem?"

Vetra's arms flailed out, clearly animating her internal frustration. "How many problems do you want me to list?"

"Give the kid a break, Vetra," Drack growled. "Can't you see she's on her first date?"

Sara glanced around until her eyes landed on Suvi, who was standing a few meters away from the group. The redhead was leaning against the balcony's railing and looking down on the level below.

The Kadara market was bustling with entertaining activity and since the scientist was purposely trying to give the turian, krogan and human the space to have their private discussion, the market was an ideal spot to focus her attention.

Sara found the conscious act of avoidance quite endearing. "This is not my first date!" she whispered hotly.

"Oh really?" Vetra drawled. "Then why are you whispering?"

"Well," Sara said, rubbing the back of her neck with her right hand, "this may be my first date since waking up in Andromeda."

"Uh-huh."

"What! How many dates have you been on since getting here?"

"Seven."

"Seven?!" Sara balked, her eyebrows furrowing in both confusion and surprise. "Well… okay, fine. But that can't be normal." She glanced at the krogan. "Drack, how many dates have you been on?"

"I don't date, kid."

The Pathfinder huffed in frustration. "Yeah, okay… I can see that."

Vetra turned to the science officer who was still scanning the marketplace below. "Suvi, can you come here for a minute?"

"Vetra," Sara sputtered, looking panicked. The last thing she wanted was the scientist to be dragged into this weird conversation about dating history in Andromeda. Having it with Vetra and Drack was one thing, but having it with her actual date was its own unique horror.

Suvi turned her head toward the group and frowned. Clearly, she had not expected to be drawn into their conversation, but after Vetra waved, she walked over to them.

Getting right to the point, Vetra asked, "How many dates have you been on since waking in Andromeda?"

"Dates?" the redhead stammered, obviously taken aback by the question.

"Yes," the turian said, "dates. This wouldn't be a fair poll without your input."

Suvi's eyes widened. "Oh, I don't think that's necessary."

"Sure it is," Sara chimed in brightly, suddenly warming to the idea of turning the spotlight off of her dating queue—or lack thereof—and finding out more about the science officer. "We need a wider demographic to showcase Vetra's unusually high dating record."

The scientist's mouth opened, but no sound came out. Instead, a slow blush reddened her cheeks as she bit her lower lip.

Vetra laughed. "Oh, this is gonna be good."

Picking up on Suvi's hesitation, Sara tilted her head inquisitively. "Suvi," she inquired gently, "how many dates have you been on?"

The science officer pursed her lips, took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. Then, she looked directly at Sara. "Fifteen."

"Fifteen!" Sara squeaked, unable to repress her shock. Forthrightness strikes again.

"With that voice, I'm not surprised," Vetra declared approvingly. "Well-done."

Drack sidled next to the redhead and gave her a single pat on the back, causing her to take a step forward to remain standing upright. "I'm impressed."

Suvi glanced at the krogan, then back at Sara. "Um… thanks?" she said uncertainly.

"Fifteen," Sara repeated. She was nodding her head, but her eyes were unfocused.

"You okay there, Ryder?" Vetra teased.

Sara shook her head, as though waking up. "Me? Okay? Yeah, I'm totally okay." Although she was speaking, the Pathfinder still looked a bit dazed.

"You sure about that?" Suvi asked, the tone of her voice relaying the many layers of that single question.

For a long, unbroken moment, Sara looked intently at Suvi, as though trying to see into her or perhaps through her. Slowly, a delighted smile formed on her lips. Regardless of how many dates either of them had been on—or not been on—right now, they were on a date together and that was all that mattered. "Yeah, I'm sure."

Suvi returned the smile. "Good."

Vetra cleared her throat to break up whatever was going on between the two humans. "Okay, great. Now that we know—"

"Suvi?!" A middle-aged human woman with long black hair stepped onto the balcony and walked towards the group.

The science officer turned when she heard her name. "Vanessa?" she said, as her eyes lit up with recognition. Almost immediately she had crossed the few meters between them and the two hugged.

Sara observed the exchange with curiosity. From the dark-haired woman's attire - black pants, a white shirt, and a long, dark gray duster - she knew the woman wasn't officially linked to any Kadara gang, past or present. But one thing was for certain, she knew she really liked that long gray coat and the way the bottom hem seemed to float above the ground as the trader moved.

Glancing at Vetra, she asked, "Do you know her?"

"That's the trader."

"Really?" Sara intoned, sounding incredulous. She watched as the women pulled away from their hug and their dialogue turned into small talk about what they've each been doing for the last few months.

"Really," Drack confirmed.

The Pathfinder frowned while continuing to scrutinize the conversation. "Small universe."

"You don't think…" Vetra's words tapered off, but her eyes kept jumping between Suvi and the trader.

Before Sara could comment on the turian's indirect question, Suvi and the trader turned and joined the group. "Vanessa, I know you've already met Vetra and Drack, but…" the redhead looked at Sara with a soft smile playing on her lips, "let me introduce you to the Pathfinder, Sara Ryder."

Vanessa reached out with her right hand. "It's a great pleasure to finally meet you."

"And you, as well," Sara replied smoothly, catching the hand with her own and giving it a solid—but not too forceful—shake.

"What you've managed to do, an outpost on Eos, one on Voeld and now you're scouting for one on Kadara, it's an amazing accomplishment."

"Thank you," Sara said. "It's not just me though. There are a lot of people involved who are making the new colonies successful."

Vanessa fixed the Pathfinder with a hard stare. "We were in Andromeda for fourteen months and all we had to show for it was a rebellion and two failed outposts. Then you show up and things change. Things started getting done. It's you and your actions that are bringing hope to a lot of people."

Somewhat uncomfortable by the trader's intensity, Sara decided to shift the topic of discussion. "So how do you and Suvi know each other?" The words were out of her mouth before she even had a chance to stop them. Cringing internally, she glanced quickly at the redhead whose eyes were shining with amusement.

"We met on the Nexus," Vanessa stated nonchalantly, "before the Uprising."

"I see." Sara was itching to ask more questions, to find out how they really knew each other, but clamped down on that urge. Instead, she got the conversation back on track by bringing up the reason why they were all on this balcony. "Vetra mentioned that you might be able to help us establish trade routes for our colony on Kadara."

"Getting right to the point." Vanessa nodded approvingly. "I like that. Time is a commodity all its own. No need to waste it."

"Agreed." Sara really wanted to wrap up this meeting, so she and Suvi could get on with their date.

"I can get you those routes," the trader confirmed, "and I can make sure the prices are fair, but I need a favor from you first."

"A favor?" Sara said skeptically.

"Think of it as a show of goodwill."

"I thought our face to face meeting was a show of goodwill."

"I confess, meeting you is honestly the highlight of my week. Or maybe the whole damn month." The trader's smile reflected the genuineness of her statement. "But that's not the real reason we are talking now."

A wave of frustration unexpectedly flooded Sara's senses. She took her responsibilities as Pathfinder very seriously, but in moments like this, when something simple got turned on its head, she wished she could just walk away. She couldn't though, not now. The success of the Kadara colony depended on this deal. So instead of indulging in some dramatic outburst, like screaming, Sara clenched her hands tightly and let the feeling of frustration ebb away.

"So, why ask me here at all?" she questioned, her voice sounding much more even-keeled than she felt.

"I only negotiate when I can look someone in the eye, so to speak." Vanessa paused for a moment as though collecting her thoughts. "Plus," she admitted, "I needed to know how important these trade routes were to your new outpost… and to the Nexus."

Sara groaned internally. This day was not turning out like she had hoped. She glanced at Suvi, who shrugged as though to indicate she had no clue what was going to be asked.

The blonde shook her head slightly and as whispered sigh escaped her lips, she felt a small, soft hand slip into hers. She returned her gaze to scientist who offered an encouraging smile along with a gentle squeeze of her hand.

Grateful for the unspoken support, Sara flashed an appreciative grin, then schooled her features and turned back toward the trader.

"Okay then, Vanessa, what's the favor?"