Chapter Four: Reporting For Duty
Ryder followed Shepard into the briefing room, finding a seat beside the first human Spectre. Already having met Ashley and Kaidan, Scott was surprised to find the other members of Shepard's council to be so diverse. A Krogan, Turian, Asari, even a Quarian all added into the mix to stop one rogue agent of the Citadel Council.
"Anderson's lead on Geth activity in this cluster was solid." Ashley reported. "As if it wasn't bad enough he was working with the Geth to bring back the Reapers, now Saren's studying AI."
"I've been going over this Alliance project, Commander." The Quarian engineer jumped in, "It's unlike anything my people have seen with the Geth. Early notes seemed to be based around some type of implant to interface with a human brain."
"Maybe Saren needs it to work with the Geth." Shepard offered.
"Turian and human physiology are pretty far apart on the spectrum, Shepard." Garrus explained. "And why research an interface when the Geth already follow Saren?"
"Maybe he's just looking for dirt on the Alliance." Ashley speculated.
"I doubt your Alliance has the teeth Saren's afraid of. But the Council does." Wrex remarked. "Anyone who messes around with AI is either a fool or desperate. And Saren's no fool."
"Commander," Liara interjected. "I think it's very possible that Saren intends to use this technology to parse through the vision you received from the beacon on Eden Prime. Though, I admit, it is difficult to say for sure without more proof."
"Agreed." Shepard replied before turning to the nee recruit, "Ryder, any thoughts on your father's work?"
Ryder took the opportunity to offer what he knew. "From what I understand; my mother was suffering a degenerative disease from her work with element zero. My father was attempting to integrate a smart AI into her body to better fight the disease."
"A smart AI?" Shepard asked.
"It's like the difference between Avina and yourself, Commander." Ryder tried to explain. "Smart AI don't just do as their told, they can self improve and reason."
Kaidan mulled over the information, "Your father was going to put something like in your mother to save her life? That's a hell of a gamble."
"For all we know, this could be Saren's way of bringing the Reapers back." Shepard reasoned. "Maybe after so long, the Reapers need to be transferred to new hardware."
Tali affirmed the possibility, "It's not a bad assumption. My people's experience with the Geth has been similar."
"Well, we still have other leads to follow in Feros and Noveria. Hopefully, we can pick up the trail. Crew dismissed." Samantha faced Ryder. "Gotten the official tour yet?"
"Just my bunk and where to leave my stuff." He quipped.
Joker broke in over the intercom, "The Council's calling in, Shepard. Want me to patch them through?"
Shepard sighed, "Rain check, Ryder... Patch them through, Joker."
The three Council members appeared on the terminal as the room emptied out. Shepard stood with her hands behind her back, awaiting their review of her report.
The Asari councilor, Tevos, spoke first, "Commander, you did well in securing a border against a Geth attack. Well done."
Sparatus, the Turian councilor, waved off the gesture. "But you allowed the Geth to retrieve data concerning artificial intelligence. I'm seeing a problem that began and ended with humans overstepping a boundary."
"Councilor, there were lives at stake." Samantha emphasized. "Every soldier saved was another gun to fight off the Geth. Besides that, I don't see why Alec Ryder's mistakes should reflect on humanity as a whole."
The Salarian, Valern, shook his hooded head, "True as that may be, Shepard, you should know better than anyone what effect one's actions can have."
"And yet you have decided to bring aboard Alec Ryder's son." Sparatus accused. "I cannot fathom as to why."
"Ryder's a good soldier, Councilors. His efforts were vital in helping defend the outpost and I believe he'll be as valuable an asset as Liara has been."
"You have free reign to operate as you see fit." Tevos reminded. "But as always, we're here to provide input."
"Noted. Anything else?"
"Humanity got away relatively unscathed when they last tangled with AI, Commander." Valern warned. "I would highly advise you pursue any related avenues with caution."
With their conversation closed out, Shepard felt another useless debate fade into the back of her mind. She had hoped whatever frustrations led to them ignoring significant portions of her reports were a one time affair. Yet, there she was, debating semantics when Saren was nowhere to be found.
Samantha exited the briefing room to find Pressly talking Ryder's ear off. "... course, I had only met your father the one time."
"Right..." Ryder admitted. "Well, dad had that effect on people."
Pressly continued, "It really is something, don't you think?
"Pressly," Shepard proceeded to come to her new recruit's rescue. "Sorry to interrupt but I'm afraid I owe specialist Ryder a tour of the Normandy."
"Looks like duty calls." Ryder immediately went to the Commander's side. "But thanks for the welcome, navigator."
Dejected, the bridge centered navigator went back to his duties. Shepard escorted Ryder to the lower deck. Men and woman of the Normandy went about their business as the two descended the stairs.
"I appreciate your help there, Shepard."
"Don't mention it. Now how about that tour?"
"Lead the way."
It didn't take long until the tour was finished and most of the faces Ryder met had a name to them. The Normandy was more than just a top of the line stealth frigate, its crew seemed like the only one who could match its capability when it came to hunting down big game like Spectres. Despite some quirks, Ryder felt an invisible string keeping them focused. When he sat back with Shepard at the mess hall, he understood what it was that tied them.
"You have quite the crew, Shepard. I gotta say, I'm impressed."
"Well, you're one of us now, Scott. Just don't let it get to your head."
"I'll do my best. Speaking of, you being a Spectre and all, do you have preference for procedure around here?"
Samantha smirked, "I was never one for procedure. It's still an Alliance vessel but you've got free reign to drop formalities."
Ryder cracked a smile at that. "You know, as much I wanted to take this chance, I don't think I know as much about the first human Spectre as I should."
"I'm sure it'll be in a history book at some point." Shepard dismissed. "What about you, Ryder? Your father's a big name but that doesn't tell me much about you."
"That's the first time I've heard someone say that." Ryder scoffed.
"It shouldn't be." Shepard stated with her arms crossed. "Where are you from?"
"I was born on the Citadel in the early days of humanity coming onto the galactic scene. I spent most of my childhood between stations and ships, though."
"That must've been tough. Any siblings?"
"Just my twin sister, Sara. She's the older by a few minutes but we both saddled into the Alliance when the time came."
Shepard made a mental reminder that both Ashley and Scott had sisters named Sara. Maybe it was a military family thing. "You must've had options. Why the Alliance?"
"Our dad encouraged it, said it'd be the best way to open doors for us. Which I guess is ironic considering his work got us blacklisted."
"I'm sensing a grudge, specialist. Feel like sharing?"
Ryder shrugged, "Our father's work made him pretty scarce when Sara and I were young. It's not much of a grudge if the other person just isn't there."
"I'm sorry to hear that. Still, I'm having tough time figuring out why you'd stay with the Alliance after all that."
"You first," Ryder nodded. "Why stay after Akuze?"
"I suppose that's fair..." Shepard admitted. "After Akuze, I started thinking back to Mindoir and why I joined in the first place."
Ryder's face remained neutral, trying not to push regarding a touchy subject. "I can't imagine that was easy."
"It wasn't." Shepard told him. "I just know I didn't want to be... nothing. I might've had more options but the Alliance offered something I needed. It gave me purpose and kept me moving forward."
"That's... really incredible, Shepard." Scott struggled to say. "And also not an easy answer to follow up."
Surprising herself, Samantha laughed. "At least you're honest. Which, if I can do the same... I think being a Spectre has been a better fit for me."
"Really?"
"Even back when I was just some colony kid, I always wanted to help people." Shepard drew circles with her finger on the table. "And now I can; no qualifications on who I can help or what I should do. Instead of being someone the Alliance wants or doesn't want me to be, I feel like myself; Samantha Shepard."
Scott tried not to stare at her soft, emerald eyes. Where they once had been piercing and focused before, after her confession, they looked friendly.
"I wish I could say I was at that place." Scott said plainly. "I guess I'm still trying to prove that I am or don't have to be the person the Alliance or my father want to me to be."
Samantha snuck a glance at him from behind a strand of her hair. His nervous smile eased the built up tension between them. Just hours ago, he braved a Geth infested outpost on her half-baked plan. He was cool and collected with no real assurance and yet, he managed. Beyond his service record, his family, or his skills, Shepard found something reassuring about his presence. She had told him more about her past than people she had known much longer. Besides a licensed professional, she hadn't told anyone in the Alliance about those thoughts.
She recalled what Adams had told her about Ryder not being a fit for the Alliance. Given how she felt about being Spectre, was he right?
Samantha stood up from her seat. "You seem to be doing pretty well from where I'm standing, Scott."
"I appreciate the opportunity, Shepard. I mean to make the most of it."
"Plenty of opportunity to go around." She told him. "We'll talk again soon."
"My door's always open." He stated.
