Chapter 8 - Rivalry

Alright folks, this chapter is a bit of a roller coaster ride, so...hold on tight to the handle bars and enjoy!


He had said it aloud, in her presence, and then ran away...

It was almost as if Evfra had confessed it more to himself, acknowledged that he had finally allowed himself to care for another.

...But what if I lose her?

Evfra paused upon the warm sunlit docks and turned around to gaze back at the Tempest. At any moment Ryder could be swept away on another mission that would take her across the cluster, never to return.

...Will I be able to handle it, that heart shattering pain, all over again?

Sighing deeply the leader turned around, allowing his physical form to lead him back through the blast doors; while his mind wandered to another place and time.

After the death of his family, Evfra drowned himself in grief. It was only after years of heartache and mourning, did the angaran finally learn to cope with loss; by ensuring no one would ever become close to him again.

'Everyone is expendable in time of war...even myself,' that was the Resistance leader's mantra.

For years Evfra kept everyone at arm's length; many never got that close. While the Moshae and Jaal did, the angaran even kept them at an arm's length. All attempts were continually and successfully rebuffed, until Sara dropped into his life, ship on fire, without a clue as to what she had landed into.

And now here he was, worrying over this little human, making her angaran lotion, and whispering a confession into her ear as she slept. How did Ryder slip past his fortified defenses?

'I see your window is slightly ajar!'

...skkut…

Evfra had always had an opening for her, Sara just needed to find her way inside.

Meanwhile back on the Tempest, sleeping deeply…

Evfra quietly leaned down, gently brushing aside her hair in almost an affectionate way. "I care for you, Sara Ryder," he whispered into her ear, his warm breath ghosting her skin.

Sara woke with a gasp, her eyes quickly scanning the room, only to find it empty. Had she dreamed it?

The young woman peered down at the clock nearby, more than an hour had passed by. Sara sighed deeply as she flopped back down onto the bed. 'It was a dream, right? God it had to have been a dream!'

"Ummm SAM?" Sara was about to ask when a knock echoed through the cabin.

"Ryder? It's Lexi, I wanted to check up on you," came the slightly muffled british accent of Dr. T'Perro.

"Oh, yeah, come on in Lexi!" Sara loudly replied as she threw off the blankets, letting her legs dangle over the mattress.

The asari was carrying a juice box in one hand and an initiative bar in the other. "So, how are you feeling?" Lexi asked with a warm smile as she handed the goodies over to the Pathfinder.

'Confused,' would be the honest answer, but the young woman wasn't going to reveal that. "Back to normal dear doctor, I think you can sign the release papers now and set me free," Sara grinned as she wiggled her toes.

"Oh, it's not as if I placed you under house arrest, Ryder," Lexi chuckled kindly. She appreciated the Pathfinder's exuberance. Yes, it could be trying at times and definitely lead the young woman into trouble. But it fueled her willpower to complete the marathon of endless missions.

"Evfra made it seem like otherwise," Sara grumbled as she stabbed the straw's pointed spear into the protected juice box hole, only to smoosh up the end bit. 'Dammit, every. single. time!'

Lexi was silently contemplating her next words...and giving the young woman a moment to tackle her beverage.

"Ah ha! Success!" Sara grinned before sipping away at the sweet nectar. Then she noticed the way Lexi's keen eyes appraised her. The young woman could practically hear the cog wheels churn inside that brilliant asari mind.

"Uh, what's up Doc?" Sara asked with a playful smile.

"Ryder," Lexi began in a tone of voice that the young woman now recognized as part of the asari's 'Physician mode'.

'Uh oh...' Sara thought with apprehension. Was there more bad news? Had she really done it this time, apart from the 100 times prior?

"Now, what I am about to ask I preface with my code of patient confidentiality. Nothing we discuss leaves this cabin," Lexi began in a more professional manner. "And that includes you SAM," the physician added to where the AI usually hung out while in Ryder's cabin.

["I hold Sara's trust to the utmost importance," SAM stated smoothly in his well-modulated voice.]

"What's going on?" Sara asked with growing trepidation. Really, had something terrible happened while she was out of it?

"Sara, I know that you've been under alot of pressure," Lexi began compassionately. "And it is common to find ways to release pent up stress, be it through exercise, meditation, the arts, or finding more...intimate methods," the asari rotated her wrist about as if signalling an 'etcetera' .

"Oh my god, are we having the talk about the Birds and Bees?!" Sara gasped as she outright gawked at the doctor, as if the asari had grown another head.

"Why would I talk about birds and bees? What do they have to do with interspecies relationships?" Lexi added feeling perplexed by how birds and bees fit into the equation when it came down to sexual intercourse. Sure her field of expertise was in Krogan virility and aggression, but Lexi was proficient in human anatomy and physiology; otherwise Dr. Carlyle wouldn't have been able to get her a spot aboard the Hyperion.

"Oh my god, we are!" Sara groaned loudly as her cheeks felt like they were on fire. It was like she was 15 years old again as her mom pulled her aside after dinner to have 'The Talk'.

"What prompted this?" The young woman challenged, forgetting the juice box entirely. What did she divulge in her delirium? And was it in Evfra's presence?!

"What do you mean what prompted this?" Lexi asked feeling slightly taken aback by Ryder's question. "Are you not in a relationship with Evfra de Tershaav?"

"No!" Sara practically yelled out from sheer embarrassment. The rest of the juice nearly spurted right out of the box from her grip.

She may have finally struck a collegial comradery with Evfra, but it was surely nothing more than that. The leader had just come to 'take care of her' in order to be even with her after she had helped him out with his flu. Sure she had been enjoying the time they spent together...and just realized that she found the angaran attractive; but a relationship?! Evfra would never EVER think of her alien-ass in any romantic capacity, let alone being open to romance in general... right?

'I mean, the leader lived and breathed for the Resistance,' Sara reasoned, like how she did for the Initiative. The angaran had such a heavy burden weighing on his shoulders that afforded no time for even dalliance. And even if he did desire that, Sara was sure that Evfra would choose someone closer to home. An angaran who could fully understand him, respond to him smoothly in the native tongue, or wordlessly with just tender pulses of bioelectric waves... lucky lady. The thought made Sara's heart pang a little. 'Damn it...'

"I guess I was... hmmm , well, if you do enter a relationship, I still suggest caution, but based on the samples Jaal gave me there should not be any adverse reactions," The asari physician evenly reported.

"Wait, what samples did Jaal give you?" Sara questioned with eyes opening even wider.

"Patient confidentiality Ryder, patient confidentiality," Lexi replied sweetly.

Once Lexi left the cabin, Sara changed into her Initiative outfit of white slacks and a light blue breathable t-shit. The young woman's head was swimming with so many thoughts that the sudden [PING!] from her omnitool made Sara yelp in fright.

It was a message, from Akksul…

['Pathfinder,'] the message began, causing Sara's brows to rise in surprise. 'So, I've been upgraded from Human huh?'

['Please have lunch with me at the Tavetaan, as an amends to the earlier unpleasantness,'] Akksul succinctly wrote.

"Wow, that's...unexpected," Sara murmured aloud as she read over the message a couple more times to make sure there weren't any hidden snide remarks. But it really did seem like an honest attempt at an apology. Curiosity piqued by Akksul's invite and getting quite bored of Initiative bars, Sara simply replied, ["Sure, see you in a bit."]

A bit later, Evfra was feeling a sense of renewed spirit as he returned to headquarters. The angaran took the quickest route that had him cut through the Repository of History.

Avela looked up from one of the newly acquired artifacts to see the resistance leader walk briskly towards her. "Oh were you looking for Akksul? You just missed him," The young curator remarked helpfully.

Evfra acknowledged the angaran's statement with a nod, though he couldn't fathom why would anyone think that he was seeking out that viper. In fact, the leader was glad he missed the idiot.

"...he just left to have lunch with Sara," Avela added pleasantly.

Evfra swore, loudly.

"Oh! I'm sure you can still catch him if you hurry," the curator quickly added, completely misunderstanding Evfra's fuming bioelectric field. "I believe he is down at the Tavetaan."

"Oh, I'll catch him," the resistance leader growled darkly before he doubled back, his hands curling into tight fists.

Meanwhile, at the Tavetaan, Sara found the ex-Roekaar leader on the upper deck at a table overlooking the view of Aya. As she approached, the angaran quickly rose from the table, knocking his left leg into it.

Brushing off a slight wince, Akksul cleared his throat as he remarked in a low warm tone, "You look well."

"Well enough for someone who was electrocuted and later collapsed?" Sara teased with an arched brow.

"Pretty good then, with all things considered," the angaran added with a low rumbling chuckle. Akksul quickly pulled out the opposite chair before proffering it to the Pathfinder.

"Oh, thanks," Sara murmured, surprised by the ex-Roekaar's manners as she lowered herself upon the offered chair. A part of her was waiting for him to pull it out from right under her, but Akksul just returned to the opposite side of the table, a small smile curling his lips.

After placing their orders for nutrient paste, Sara became acutely aware of how many other angaran eyes peered at her from about the Tavetaan.

Hushed whispers and curious glances began to fuel Aya's infamous grapevine 'Akksul and the Pathfinder? Oh my!' The delicious gossip spread like wildfire, for churning the news along the grapevine was a classic angaran past time.

"Ah, Pathfinder, ahem, Sara…" Akksul began feeling his hands become slightly clammy within his gloves. Stars! Akksul has had females literally throw themselves at him. Yet, here he was bumbling about just to call the young woman by her first name. "You have quite the crew," Akksul complimented.

"Yeah, well, you would know best after getting into a few skirmishes with us," Sara grinned as she set her hands on the table. This was actually turning out to be an interesting conversation. In the past, if anyone told the young woman that she would be sharing lunch with Akksul and chatting about her crew, Sara would've told them they were drunk on tavum. But, here they were.

A waitress bustled over, handing a tube of nutrient paste to each of them before being waved over to another table. As Sara twisted off the cap of her meal, Akksul was mentally devising a strategy to get to his big questions answered.

First the angaran tactfully began, "I've noticed that Jaal admires you greatly."

Sara hummed an appreciative note as she sucked on the fruity smoothie-like concoction. 'Wow, it's really really sweet!'

"Are the two you...paired?" Akksul asked innocently.

Sara nearly choked on her nutrient paste, where was this coming from?! "No!" The young woman choked out, before taking a big gulp. "We just make a great team and while we are close, we're more like family. I mean, he's like another brother to me," Sara tried to quickly clarify. But she could practically see it fan the gossipy flames.

"Ah, I see," Akksul murmured. Fiddling with his yet unopened tube, the angaran ventured, "So, there's no…Taoshay?"

There was a sudden sharp coughing fit from someone nearby. Sara couldn't see who was coughing, but it sounded familiar. She turned her gaze back to realize that Akksul was appraising her while he patiently awaited her reply.

"Oh, um, no...it's been awhile, 600 years plus actually," Sara divulged, feeling a bit awkward as she rubbed the back of her neck.

Akksul gaped at her, "600 years…" he echoed. "That is a long time," the angaran chuckled.

"Tell me about," the young woman agreed with a good humored laugh in turn. Sara had no idea why she was being this damn honest with the ex-Roekaar leader. Then again, who could blame her for the dry spell, it's been non-stop Pathfinder business and she really hadn't been searching for someone...

"Sara, if I may," Akksul carefully began as he eyed the Pathfinder's gloved hand, slowly moving his own out to meet it. "I would like to…" But, the angaran didn't finish his proposition for a large looming figure now stood before them.

Earlier that day Roaan was sighing deeply, for it was turning out to be just another boring day as the same 'ole angara came and went. Then the Pathfinder showed up and the chatter in the Tavetaan doubled at her presence. The young woman waved and shot the bartender a friendly smile as she passed by. Roaan watched with great interest because it looked like she was going to meet someone...but who?

The bartender's jaw nearly dropped. Akksul?! Roaan ignored a waiting patron as he took in the sight of the Pathfinder sitting across from the ex-leader of the Roekaar. Weren't they mortal enemies? But it appeared that they were having an amicable meeting so far. Well, times have indeed changed…

There was an odd movement from the corner of Roaan's eyes and the bartender turned to find that the resistance leader had perched himself at the table on the other side of a dense planter from where the Pathfinder and Akksul sat. Evfra was slightly hunched over so that the top of his head didn't loom above the divider as he keenly watched the pair through the thicket.

'Oh dear,' Roaan sighed as he poured a glass of tavum and headed over to the hopeless angaran.

Evfra had arrived at the bustling Tavetaan, searching for Ryder and Akksul. But as he watched the pair sit down, the leader realized he had no plan nor any idea of what to do next. Though, the thought of punching Akksul in the gut pleased him greatly.

Suddenly Ryder looked his way, and Evfra ducked out of sight...and now here he was on the opposite side of the floral divider, listening in on the conversation.

"Snooping are we?" Roaan's sudden question nearly gave the leader a heart attack.

Casting a withering glance up at the amused bartender, Evfra gruffly whispered, "I do not snoop, I investigate."

"Indeed, well here have some tavum while you 'investigate' ," Roaan chuckled as he returned to the bar.

The resistance leader grunted, but he did take a sip as he listened to the conversation. Akksul's low rumbling voice remarked, "I've noticed that Jaal admires you greatly." Evfra keenly listened as Sara just hummed in response.

Luckily Evfra had swallowed his drink before Akksul asked his question, though it appeared Ryder had not been ready. "Are you two...paired?" Akksul asked innocently. Evfra cringed as he heard Sara cough and sputter. Then he became acutely aware of Akksul's bioelectric field.

Were Ryder angaran, she surely would have caught on to the thrumming inquiry of interest that buzzed around Akksul. An angaran would have responded with their own bioelectric field by showing interest or disinclination. However the Pathfinder wasn't angaran so the use of communicating through voltaic signals was moot. Yet, Akksul was no doubt driven by instinct. Evfra paused as he realized exactly what the ex-Roekaar was vying for...and the leader did not like it one bit!

However, Evfra had to keep his own pulsing bioelectric field in check lest Akksul realize he was there, 'snooping' . Though the idea of suddenly zapping the ex-Roekaar leader was very tempting.

Evfra keenly listened as Ryder quickly explained that Jaal was more like a brother to her, and the resistance leader let loose a breath he had not realized he had been holding onto. It never had occurred to Evfra to inquire if the young woman was unattached. The older angaran sipped upon his tavum as he contemplated this lapse in judgement. Ryder had talked about Scott, who was her brother. Liam was one of her crewmates, the one with not as nice of a couch. There had been no other potential candidates she had mentioned, then again Evfra had not yet broached the topic.

Then Akksul asked, "So, there's no…Taoshay?"

Evfra suddenly inhaled the burning alcoholic juice and began a coughing fit as he thumped his chest. Even Roaan sent the resistance leader a questioning gaze, to which Evfra quickly waved away as he managed to clear his airway.

"Oh, um, no...it's been awhile, 600 years plus actually," Sara chuckled.

Evfra paused at this, from what he recalled, Ryder had stated she was in cryogenic sleep for 600 years for the travel from the Milky Way. She came with her father, the original Human Pathfinder, and twin brother. Sara told him that her father had passed away on their first mission, and had chosen her as the next Pathfinder.

It felt like so long ago, but Evfra could still recall his surprise when he learned that the young woman before him was a mere greenhorn of leader who had fairly recently had the title of Pathfinder and its burden thrusted upon her. And look at Ryder now, making planets habitable, outplaying his tactics, and even uniting the angara under the Resistance. Sara had become a dependable, knowledgeable, and successful leader in her own right.

Then the angaran realized something. It was already a few moments here and there that he had spent with Ryder, once there was someone else...it would be far less. Sure he would still communicate with Sara in an official capacity, he the Resistance Leader and Ryder, the Pathfinder. But all that could be, would never be…

'And that's for the best'... the angaran's life was for the Resistance. He couldn't rest until the Kett were completely defeated, nor he could afford any distractions.

But then Evfra heard it, Sara's musical laughter, and the part of his heart that had been slowly thawing stirred with hope. Flashes of memories blinked within the angaran's mind as Evfra recalled how much livelier his home was with Ryder in it, the desire when their eyes connected after his spar, how warm and perfect Sara felt when she held him close. His rational brain continued to shout warnings, but his heart beated with a promise of a life the leader had lost long ago. And the angaran knew deep down, he couldn't imagine losing Ryder to someone else.

Akksul's voice recalled the leader to the current predicament. "600 years. That is a long time," the ex-Roekaar leader stated. And Evfra became acutely aware of how Akksul's bioelectric field was reaching a crescendo to a verbal proposition. If there was at least one thing Evfra was well versed in, it was battle, and the angaran was not going to give up without a fight. Evfra would never forgive himself if he lost this chance, he needed to act, now!

"Sara, if I may, I would like to…" But Akksul paused as both he and Sara looked up to find Evfra upon them, arms crossed and molten blue eyes narrowed.

"May I join?" The resistance leader asked in his low gravelly aussie voice.

The young woman's cheeks flushed at the angaran's presence, something that Akksul noted. Was that some sort of human response? To Evfra?!

"No," Akksul grumbled his disapproval.

"Sure!" Sara responded with a smile.

Akksul scowled as he pulled back his hands, while Evfra smirked. The leader grabbed a chair from a nearby table and slid it right in between the ex-Roekaar and Ryder.

Sara was not privy to the silent and invisible bioelectric spar that had begun. Akksul sent a few jabbing jolts, to which the older angaran skillfully rebuffed with his stronger field. The pair grappled with their voltaic powers, pressuring the other to submit.

Suddenly Sara felt something tickle both her arms. Instinctively she rubbed her bare extremities as goosebumps formed here and there. "Huh, I thought I felt something," the young woman murmured as she looked around...weird. Then there was a familiar tingling sensation and...wait a minute!

"What are you two doing," Sara questioned with a growing frown as she crossed her arms and gazed between her two luncheon companions.

"Nothing," the two angarans responded, in unison, with equally terrible attempts at feigning innocence.

Sara narrowed her bright eyes at them both. "It better be nothing," she hissed a low warning. Last thing she needed was for the three of them to cause a huge scene in the middle of the busy Tavetaan. The young woman could see that patrons were sneaking furtive glances at their table and making hush comments. "I'm getting us drinks, and then hopefully we can carry on in a more civilized manner," Sara stated before she walked away.

The angarans waited patiently for the young woman to reach a certain distance before they turned on eachother with venomous flashing glares.

"You are not interested in her, you are just doing this to rankle my haunches," Evfra accused the young angaran in a low growl.

"Or, maybe I am interested in Sara, and rankling your haunches is a bonus!" Akksul replied smugly.

"You are not suitable for Ryder!" Evfra stated defiantly as he rose from his chair. Akksul was completely wrong for Sara. The younger angaran already proved himself incompetent by letting harm befall the Pathfinder. Plus he was no longer a leader of his people, unlike Evfra.

"Well, how about we settle this and find out who is the better suitor," Akksul replied as he quickly stood up to meet the older angaran.

And that's when things went downhill...

Sara was waiting for their beverages when she saw both Akksul and Evfra stomp off. "Uh guys? Guys! What the hell?! Roaan, sorry, I have no idea what's going on," the young woman apologized, forgetting the drinks completely as she darted after the two storming angarans.

"Oh you soon will…" Roaan chuckled to himself as he watched; along with the rest of the curious Tavetaan patrons.

Sara was hot on their tails, but lost them somewhere inside the Resistance Headquarters. Looking here and there, the young woman nearly ran into, "Jaal?"

"Sara! I was just talking to Avela when Evfra and Akksul came stomping through, snarling at each other like two wild Adhis!" Jaal remarked.

"It looked like they were heading towards the training hall," Avela informed them, causing Jaal and Sara to exchange glances before hurrying off.

"What happened?" Jaal questioned as the pair quickened their pace.

"Well Akksul and I were having lunch when Evfra suddenly joined," Sara explained as Jaal looked surprised. "I mean it wasn't going dandy, but I thought I could get the two to see eye to eye," the young woman added with a slight groan. Sara knew the two were at odds, especially when her snooping uncovered Roekaar stealing Resistance resource shipments from the headquarters on Voeld. But now that Akksul was no longer with the Roekaar, he could prove to be a valuable ally to Evfra.

Meanwhile, Jaal had already figured out the true reason. Akksul had invited Sara to a meal, Evfra must have found out about it and barged in. Akksul was probably making an advance upon the young woman, whom Evfra was starting to treat as his mate. Angarans were very territorial and based on how those two were acting, they were going to settle this in the sparring ring.

There was already a large curious crowd gathering on the outside the circumference of the mats as both Evfra and Akksul stripped down to their blacksuit trousers, just as Sara had seen in the challenger spar. But this time the angarans also removed their gloves.

"Wait, their gloves, they're taking them off?" Sara asked in confusion.

"Oh dear…this may get ugly," Jaal grimaced. "A spar without gloves indicates that bioelectric attacks are acceptable."

"Think of this as a rematch, Evfra, a chance to redeem you first loss to me," Akksul stated confidently as he rolled his shoulders. Then the young angaran realized that the Pathfinder was in the crowd. "Did you know that Sara?" Akksul added loudly.

Molten blue eyes quickly glanced towards Ryder. Evfra had not counted on the young woman to be present during this. But, now that she was here, the leader had even more reason to win this. However, Akksul's prideful boosting was making Evfra's blood boil. "It's time I put you back in your place whelp," the older angaran growled as his bioelectric field buzzed around his form.

"Or maybe I'll put you into retirement," Akksul countered as his field crackled in response.

"Jaal, is this going to be intense?" Sara asked feeling a sense of foreboding as she watched the two angarans warily encircle one another.

"Your presence is making it so," Jaal confided quietly.

"Wait what…" But she nearly missed Akksul's lunge, to which Evfra effortlessly sidestepped, bringing his elbow forcefully down upon the young angaran's back. Sara gasped, this...they weren't fooling around!

Akksul nearly fell over from the force, but quickly caught himself. He turned around, whipping a crackling glowing charge of electricity as he did so.

Evfra braced himself, summoned a shield of his own electricity to rebuff the voltaic attack, but by doing so he lost precious preparation time as Akksul lunged again. The older angaran decided to meet him head on as they grabbed each other's hands into a straight up grapple, butting their heads like rams with such force that it made Sara gasp.

"Jaal...this isn't the usual challenging spar, is it?" The young woman whispered.

Jaal felt torn as he wrung his gloved hands. He would be stepping on Evfra's toes in admitting that this was a rite of suitorship to Sara. It was up to Evfra to state so. "No, they are...contesting," Jaal answered cautiously.

"I figured that much, but it seems way more heated than when it was between Evfra and the top member," Sara admitted. "I get that there is history between them, but damn they are bloody snarling at each other!"

Akksul may have developed his own technique, unique to the one's Evfra taught him long ago, but the resistance leader learned a few new tricks from Ryder's lesson.

Evfra then did something that made Sara gasp, he lunged himself just where Akksul had been, a seemingly gross miscalculation…

'Wait I know that move!' Sara gasped as she watched the leader duck Akksul's kick, then spring up into a lunge that toppled the younger angaran backwards onto the mat.

Akksul went down onto the mat, but rolled out of the way as Evfra tried to pin him down. Again they were back at it, and it was escalating as the air around them crackled with electricity. Then, Akksul punched Evfra in the face, to which the older angaran returned a nasty punch to Akksul's gut. The two males, both breathing quite raggedly now, staggered away from each other momentarily.

Speckles of dark blue liquid had dripped onto the mat. Wait was that blood? Sara suddenly remembered that when Jaal's face was nicked by Akksul's bullet, his wound seeped of blue liquid. The blood of the angara was blue! Someone had been hurt! This was going too far, though no one made the slightest attempt to stop it. There appeared to be no referee!

"Jaal," Sara tugged on the angaran's rofjinn to tear his avid attention away from the spar. "Jaal we have to stop them, this is getting out of hand!"

"But, it's tradition," the angaran stated.

"To hell with tradition!" the young woman exclaimed as she stepped forward.

"Sara!" Jaal shouted and made to grab her arm, but she snaked right out of his grasp.

"Stop this right now!" Sara shouted, causing the onlookers to gasp and murmur at her approach. But instinct now drove the two male angarans as they took no notice of the young woman. "I said STOP!" Sara roared as her eyes glowed blue just as two spurts of throw blasted the two angarans apart.

"What the hell are you two trying to do, kill one another?" Sara demanded, looking livid as she glared at the pair. Her eyes narrowed upon Akksul, who was sprawled on the floor seemingly stunned by her. "I thought you had better sense Akksul, and you!" The young woman rounded on the resistance leader, who had risen off the mat. "I thought you were above this," she added with disappointment as clear as day upon her face.

Thoroughly admonished by the one they were trying to vying for, Evfra stormed out through the hallway, while a medic helped Akksul up.

"Oh Sara," Jaal sighed as he approached the furious young woman.

"Dont, 'oh Sara' me! Someone had to stop those two knuckleheads from beating each other to a pulp!" Sara stated in complete outrage.

"But don't you see…with you coming in between them, there is no victor," Jaal tried to explain.

"Good!" Sara exclaimed as she flung her hands into the air. "I still have a few things to tell that blue oaf!" Sara seethed as she turned to follow wherever Evfra had stomped off too.

Leaning against one of the medics, Akksul watched Sara go after Evfra. It was then that the angaran realized he was never in the run for the young woman's affections...

Sara couldn't believe it! Evfra of all people to participate in that nonsensical stunt! The resistance leader was always one of commanding coolness...so what had triggered him to spar to such an extreme?

The young woman found Evfra pacing along a large balcony overlooking Aya. At the mere sight of him, Sara opened her mouth and let him have it. "You idiot! What was that ridiculous spar supposed to prove huh?!" Shouted the storming young woman.

Evfra bristled and growled at her words as he roughly wiped the blue blood from his nose. He shouldn't be in her presence while adrenaline still pumped tumultuously through him. Ryder's scent alone was egging on his instinctual urge to claim her. However, his disappointment at the young woman's interference in the spar was enough to hold him at bay. But now Evfra was more frustrated than ever! Maddening, absolutely, maddening!

"What the hell was that all about?" Sara asked as she placed both hands on her hips and glared at the resistance leader.

Evfra glanced back over at her, growling, before he began to pace again. "Thanks to your interference, no one knows the victor!" He spat as he marched along the railing, breathing deeply to override the hormones that goaded him.

"Oh please, it was clearly you," Sara declared with a shake of her head.

Evfra nearly stumbled upon his feet as he came to a sudden halt at her words. The angaran whipped around to give the young woman a dumbstruck gaze. "What?"

Sara rolled her eyes so hard they could have popped out of the sockets. "Oh come on!" She waved her hands about in exasperation on how dense the resistance leader could be. "Evfra, you just stormed right out of the ring like nothing had happened, while a medic had to help Akksul limp away!"

"I had to stop you," The young woman continued emphatically. "You would have beaten him to a pulp! Really you two need to sort out whatever bad blood is between you and start working together. You shouldn't be at each other's throats and...hang on," Sara paused in her tirade as she noticed something change upon the resistance leader. "Wait, you look too smug for being told off!" The young woman accused.

"Well, I won," Evfra gloated as he puffed out his chest. He won and not only did Sara state so, but she came after him and not Akksul!

"Oh for crying out loud, you really are insufferable!" Sara stated dramatically as she waved her arms about.

But all it did was make the low rumble in the angaran's chest grow louder in response as he gazed fondly upon her. So lively, so passionate, she was a magnet that pulled him to her. "Yes, and?" Evfra prompted as he walked towards her, a slight swagger as he did; molten blue eyes locked on her fuming figure. He was beginning to enjoy these little outbursts of hers.

"Hot headed!" Sara roared as she pointed an accusing index finger at him, while her other hand rested upon her hip.

Hips that were wonderfully curvaceous and beckoned Evfra's itching fingers to wrap themselves around. "Go on," the angaran added as he neared her, the rumble reverberating to his core as he continued to close the distance between them. Ryder's usually weak bioelectric field seemed stronger as well. As if amplified by her biotics? Evfra didn't know, but in his eyes the young woman seemed to glow.

"Cantankerous!" Sara added now waving her pointed finger at him in her fury...when suddenly she felt her back press up against the wall. The young woman paused for she had not been aware that Evfra was inching towards her and in response she had been taking a few steps back until...

All thought of reprimanding the leader was wiped from her mind as she realized that Evfra...shirtless and sweaty, was now placing his two arms above either side of her head as he leaned down to her. "Anything else?" Evfra asked, his voice low and throaty as his naked chest heaved.

Bright eyes wide at her predicament. Sara's throat could only wobble as she gulped.

"Once again the Pathfinder is tongue tied? I must be getting good at this," Evfra chuckled in his low gravelly aussie accent.

Oh...ohhhh she was in trouble...

Evfra dipped his head down along the side of her face and inhaled deeply; as if he was breathing her in!

"You smell good, Sara," he nearly purred as his bioelectric field hummed around the pair. "And you are truly, maddening," Evfra murmured huskily into her ear. His voice alone caused the young woman's legs to feel like jelly.

"I've got a knack for that," Her shaky voice slipped out of her mouth.

Evfra chuckled, and his warm breath ghosted her skin causing goosebumps to deliciously prickle up. The angaran rose back up as he added, "Your scent, your touch, your presence." He reached out a bare hand, gently brushing aside her unruly hair, and Sara inhaled sharply. She knew this touch...it hadn't been a dream...

Bright eyes peered up at molten blue, and once again Sara saw a unique warmth to them. They searched her own as she felt Evfra's warm calloused hand affectionately cup her the side of her face, before he gently stroked the apple of her cheek with his thumb.

Evfra steeled himself, he had come this far with all that had happened. There was a chance Sara would reject him, she had no bioelectric field to clue him in on her thoughts so far on his own display, but he was willing to risk it. And as the angaran searched those bright eyes, he realized just how much he was willing to risk for Sara.

"I want you," Evfra breathed.

"What?" Sara gasped as her eyes widened in shock. Had she heard him, Evfra de Tershaav, correctly?! The young woman could only gawk up at the angaran. A part of her would have thought it a joke...but this was Evfra.

"I am stating my intentions, before another can," the gruff angaran boldly declared. "I wish to court you and make you mine."

Intentions...court...want… Sara's head was spinning! And she had thought there was no way Evfra could be remotely romantic nor be interested her in such a way!

The warm gentle stroke upon her cheek recalled Sara back to the present as the angaran added in his low gruff aussie voice, "You both madden and embolden me, and I would not have it any other way." His thumb paused as he peered questioningly down at the young woman.

"Evfra," Sara whispered as she carefully lifted her own hand up, with slight trepidation that she might somehow spook the angaran with any sudden movements. But, she could tell that Evfra was aware as he stayed stalk still as her palm came to gently rest upon his cheek.

The angaran's eyes fluttered closed as he slipped into the vulnerable moment of feeling Sara's hand upon his skin. And even though she still wore her gloves, the warmth and significance of her caress made him almost melt as he leaned into her touch. Stars how he had longed for this...

Sara was at a loss for words for her heart swelled at the sight of Evfra's tenderness and defenselessness. For the leader to have not only stated his feelings, but to have even opened himself up to her...Sara could only imagine the kind of courage it took. The angaran had taken that leap, but what about her?

"I care for you Evfra de Tershaav," Sara practically whispered as she let her own thumb glide upon his skin; amazed by how smooth and warm it felt. "And, I'm not saying no...but...I need some time to think this through," The young woman added.

Evfra's eyes opened to gaze down at her, though he remained silent, his own hand still cupping her cheek. The angaran could see that Ryder was rushing to explain.

"I'm a hot mess Evfra, I've screwed up alot of things without taking the time to think it through," Sara admitted as Scott's visceral anger came to mind. The young woman squeezed her eyes closed in sadness. But, then she felt the angaran's thumb tenderly ghost along her skin. Sara sighed, feeling calmed by his touch. She opened her eyes to find Evfra watching her, patiently waiting.

"I don't want to mess this up. You, you mean alot to me," Sara finally admitted. "I need to hunt the Archon down first, then when I return, you'll have my answer."

Evfra's thumb paused as he took in her words. Sara was being the sensible one, while here he was rushing into things. She kept surprising him with a maturity beyond her years. And his respect only grew as Ryder put the mission before self, as a true leader would do. Again, just proving why Sara would be the perfect partner for him; to bring not only love, but balance into his life.

Meanwhile, Sara couldn't get a read on the angaran. But, as she felt Evfra relinquish his caress from her cheek, her heart squeezed with worry that she may have already screwed it up. The young woman was about to pull her own hand away, when Evfra caught it in his.

"Sara," Evfra murmured as he brought her hand back up to him. He momentarily marveled at how small her hand was compared to his own. Who would've guessed such small hands would hold his heart. "I respect your wishes," The leader stated as he curled his large hand around hers, and brought it to his mouth, where he kissed it gently, reverently, before whispering, "I'll await your return."

Evfra then let the young woman slip away her hand, momentarily saddened by the loss of her touch. But the angaran called to her, before she disappeared down the hall. "And Sara, just be careful…"

The young woman flashed him a playful smile, "Always am, Evfra."

But no matter how careful Sara planned to be, the stars had plans of their own for these two lovers...


Whew! I really hope you enjoyed it. I really want to develop Evfra's and Sara's relationship before they seal the deal.

Though, I am taking my certification exam later this month so I won't update again until afterwards. Please send positive energy and thank you for your continued support!

Mass Effect Andromeda Wiki translations: Taoshay - "loved one"