Chapter 6

Reyes watched the hacked news vid from the Nexus with a proud smirk. The human pathfinder had very recently returned to the station triumphantly with the Leusinia limping in tow. The buzz and chatter all over the Initiative concentrated on the heroic battle for the Asari ark that Ryder and his team went through to bring the 12,000 lives remaining onboard back to safety. Reyes' hacker friend intercepted many of the most pertinent vids, including those displaying the live feed of the Leusinia's arrival on the Nexus and interviews from the crew and Ryder himself. Reyes then had the vids hacked into the media stream on Kadara so that the pathfinder's victory was displayed on every screen in the port.

He stood on the edge of a large crowd watching the expressions of the people as they in turn watched a large public display screen in the market. The new asari pathfinder, a young pretty thing named Vederia Damali was being interviewed. Reyes couldn't help but feel a warm pride bloom in his heart as Vederia retold of how Scott had taken the dire situation into his own hands and provided the ark's crew with the means to not only protect the ship from the kett onslaught, but also restore power so the ark could escape into FTL. Reyes had seen and heard all the reports, interviews and stories already, but he needed to gage the public's reaction. His mission to gain Ryder favor with the people of Kadara continued and, he felt, was of significant importance. The uprising occurred because the Nexus authority failed to provide a game plan when things went wrong and people lost faith that they could or would do anything to correct the disastrous situation. If they could witness Ryder's successes across Heleus, if they could see the damn near miracles he was performing, Reyes was confident hatred for the pathfinder and the Initiative could be dissolved. In turn, people like Kelly Sloane would lose their power and influence. There would finally be an alternative for the desperate citizens in the port and in the badlands and only fools would choose to continue to follow a tyrant like Sloane. Her little empire would crumble around her ears and Reyes wanted to be there when it did.

After hanging around a while longer he determined the overall attitude of the crowd was positive, even hopeful in the case of many individuals not involved with either the Collective or Outcasts, including the local Angara. The vids had been running off and on for a few days now, and yet the people couldn't seem to get enough of it. Everywhere Reyes went there were groups and crowds gathered around public viewing screens, or individuals sitting in Kralla's Song their drinks forgotten as they aptly watched on their omni-tools. Reyes couldn't be happier with the way his plans were progressing. Especially since Sloane was pissed. The vids were casting a positive glow on the Initiative, which she now hated, and Ryder, whom she cared very little for after their first meeting. People were talking, questions were being asked. Sloane's hold over them was still firm, but it would soon begin to slip.

A new message gently pulsed on his omni-tool and Reyes opened it up. It was from his hacker friend.

Added a new vid to the loop. Actual footage from the Leusinia.

You won't be sorry.

Jaded

Reyes' heart sped up a little. He had pre-approved everything they were showing to the people of Kadara. He didn't much like or appreciate surprises in his plans. Just as he was replying he heard the current vid fade out and looked up in time to see the screen fizzle out only to snap back to a clear image of a hallway on what Reyes assumed must be the Leusinia. The footage followed Scott and his small team as they fought their way through the ark. Jaded must have pieced the footage together from dozens of surveillance cameras to show the pathfinder's progress through the most dangerous battles to free the ark. Reyes found himself staring in awe like everyone else in the suddenly much larger crowd as the cameras showed the pathfinder, Harper, and an asari hold a biotic shield to protect the ark from a barrage of missiles from a large kett warship. The three of them stood unflinching in the compromised hull facing down the incoming fire.

The image was clear enough that Reyes could see the pathfinder's muscles strain beneath the armor mesh against the powerful explosions to the shield. Harper fell to her knees once beneath the sheer force but regained her feet quickly. The three biotics started to bend under the strain, but just as it began to look hopeless blue lightning burst from Ryder, sizzled around him and then lanced out all through their biotic sphere. This time when they pushed forward again their shield exploded outward away from the ark. Many missiles exploded on the sizzling shield's surface, but many more were deflected back to the enemy. Cheers went up in the port as fiery explosions impacted against the kett ship. The kett had stopped firing when they must have realized their mistake, but the damage was done. In their arrogance they'd fired an entire arsenal at the Leusinia, an arsenal that was now returning home without prejudice.

The footage ended with a large explosion that utterly destroyed the enemy just as the ark escaped into FTL. Reyes breathed a sigh of relief when the screen went black before returning to the loop of vids. Even though he knew Scott was safe, he'd hardly been able to breathe those last minutes of the battle. Another message pulsed on his omni-tool and he couldn't help but smile as he read: Told you you wouldn't be sorry...

Looking around at the celebrating going on in the market, Angara and Initiative exiles alike, Reyes had to agree.

As Reyes walked away from the jovial noise to return to the slums, he returned a message of his own.

Don't ever do that again without my approval.

But I will let it slide just this once.

C

He smirked at the immediate irreverent response as he stepped into the lift. He'd known Jaded too long to take it seriously, and he was suddenly in an exceptionally good mood. He needed to be careful if he planned to conduct any more business. He might let just about anything slide today.


Scott took advantage of his short stay on the Nexus to go see his sister. He knew nothing had changed, Dr. Carlisle kept him well informed of Sara's condition, but it helped him sort through things sometimes just to be in her company. He'd just come from speaking to Cora about Sarissa. Onboard the Leusinia, after one tiring battle after the other, they'd uncovered a recording of Pathfinder Ishara's final moments. Turns out Sarissa abandoned her Pathfinder to her death in order to chase after some kett navigational charts. Cora had been devastated. It was only too obvious to see a part of the strong woman break in that moment. It made Scott angry. Sarissa was all Cora could talk about. She idolized the asari commando to a degree that flirted with godhood. To discover that Sarissa had abandoned her one true mission—to keep her pathfinder safe—was disgraceful, dishonorable. The discovery that her theft of the charts had caused the kett to send an elite hunter team known as the Decimation—that so much more destruction to the ark and countless deaths were a direct link to Sarissa's actions, was unredeemable.

When the time came to make a choice—turn Sarissa in, or keep her actions secret—one look at Harper's face, Scott never doubted what needed to be done. Though he doubted he had a right to make that decision—after all, his own pathfinder, his father, was dead because of him—someone had to make the call. From the look on Cora's face afterward, it was clear she was eternally grateful she didn't have to make it. Vederia was young and inexperienced, she hadn't even completed her training, but she was next in line for pathfinder and she took up the mantel with nervous enthusiasm. Scott liked her almost immediately. He saw a lot of himself in her, and knew from personal experience that lacking pathfinder training was not exactly a bad thing. It just required more work.

During his conversation with Harper after all the hubbub had died down a little, she told Scott she couldn't have made the decision that would forever disgrace her idol, who really had done so much good in her years of service and combat—that she was sure now Scott had been the right choice for pathfinder, though Cora had been next in line for the succession.

It felt good to have the powerful biotic's complete trust at last. It was hard-earned, but Scott hadn't expected anything less from Harper. With that, and the great victory of the Leusinia's return to the Nexus, Scott was finally feeling like a real home could be made in this treacherous galaxy that was fighting them every step of the way.

When Scott entered the med bay near the cryo facilities, Dr. Carlisle greeted him with a warm smile, asked if he needed anything and then made himself scarce to give Scott some privacy with his sister. It was a long time since he'd been on the station and so there was a lot to fill her in on. Whether Sara could hear him or would remember anything he said was unclear, but it was therapeutic in a way to tell someone the work he was doing from his personal opinion and not on some cold-hearted official report. Lexi wanted to be the one he unloaded to for mental health and evaluation purposes, but he wasn't comfortable with that. At least the doctor didn't argue too much when she realized that what Scott was doing was helping him.

Scott unloaded everything on his sister like he would if she were awake. As he spoke he realized just how long it had been since he last saw her—the day he lied to her about their father—and he silently vowed not to let so much time pass between them again. When his tale led to Kadara Port, Scott paused, suddenly unsure what to say about Reyes Vidal, the smuggler who was successfully turning Scott's brain to mush and toying with his heart without even having to try. However, this was exactly the topic his sister would want to hear and would have endless advice for if she could give it, so Scott trudged on with embarrassing honesty and grateful that no one in the med bay was near enough to hear him.

No one bothered Scott when he visited Sara. Even Director Tann knew that was in bad taste unless there was an emergency. So it was hours before he finally emerged from the medical bay. Somehow he felt better. Simply speaking out loud about Kale helped. In turn it made his thoughts about Reyes a little clearer. Scott still had some meetings to attend while he was on the station, but in the meantime some of his crew had invited him to the Vortex Lounge for drinks and relaxation. Maybe even a game of poker with Gil. Then they would be departing the following morning. Their destination was Kadara. The planet's monoliths still needed to be reset and Scott found himself very grateful for an excuse to return to the port.

When Scott entered the bar a roar of cheering erupted over the bass of the music. The Vortex was packed with citizens of the Nexus who were in the mood to celebrate the rescue of the asari ark. Scott was immediately swarmed by excited party-goers. Despite his desire for quiet conversation over some of Dutch's newest mixed drinks, Scott would be lying if he said he wasn't having a good time. All night people congratulated him. People he'd never met or only seen in passing were buying him drinks, wanting him to dance, wanting to hear for the hundredth time the tales of his adventures. He had also received more than a few propositions to "get outta here and have some real fun". Although flattering, as time wore on, it became a bit overwhelming. His crew members knew him better than anyone there and could see when he'd reached his limit. A few glares from Harper, and growled threats from Drack and Scott eventually found himself in a quieter corner of the lounge surrounded by those he knew he could call his friends.

"Well, Ryder," Gil put a hand on his shoulder with a smirk. "How does it feel to be the hottest thing on the Nexus?"

Scott scoffed, but there was a small smile turning up his lips even when he tried to stop. It just felt too damned good to finally have such a victory under his belt. The asari population in their new home was secure. Many were lost, but Vederia was leading expeditions to track down the missing escape pods that very moment and hopes were high that they would find even more survivors. Scott took a long swallow of his beer and just enjoyed listening to the music and the banter of his crew. If felt good to know he could take a moment to remember what he was fighting for, knowing that there was another he could depend on to keep up the fight.

The next morning Scott woke early to attend his last meeting with Director Tann and the other figureheads on the Nexus. Tann tried to coerce him into wasting time trying to track down the turian ark, the Natanus. The salarian wanted another big victory, wanted to keep their momentum going, but Scott knew it was a waste of time. He didn't want to let other worlds and the exiles trying to survive them waste away while he and his crew burned through resources trying to find a ship they had no leads on. It made no sense to ignore those in desperate need right in front of them. Scott told the leaders exactly that knowing that ultimately the choice was his. They knew they couldn't stop the pathfinder without attracting unwanted hostilities in the already fragile community aboard the Nexus. Scott just had to hope that in his journeys to help their golden worlds he learned something of the fate of their remaining missing arks.

SAM alerted his crew of the desired departure time. It was merely a courtesy reminder. He knew his crew was already prepared and anxious to get back out there. The Nexus was enormous—it shouldn't feel so claustrophobic—but there was something so satisfying, so freeing about having their own ship and being able to go whenever and wherever they needed.

Scott went straight to the Tempest after his meeting. He knew where he wanted to go and the thought of going back there made his stomach flutter. He wandered into his bedroom and settled on the edge of his bed. After a moment of quiet thinking he made up his mind. He opened his Omni-tool and typed out a message:

Reyes

I apologize for leaving without warning, a crucial matter came up that left no

room for hesitation. However, I am returning to Kadara to attempt to reset the

planet's monoliths.

Scott held his breath a moment as he contemplated whether or not to write the next line.

Perhaps we could meet for drinks?

Scott

He let out his breath in a rush and tapped 'send' before he could talk himself out of it. Thankfully he didn't have to wait long before he heard the soft ping of a response.

All is forgiven, pathfinder. I will hold you to those drinks.

Reyes

Scott couldn't help the smile that slowly spread across his lips. After several minutes of quiet contemplation he reached over and picked up his acoustic. His deft, nimble fingers plucked an upbeat melody from the taut nylon and bronze-wrapped strings.

When his crew boarded the Tempest an hour later to prepare for departure, Scott was still playing, a gentle smile none of them had ever seen before still on his lips.

—tbc