At one in the morning, Scott finally finished the draft of his report. It'll need a once-over to correct the mistakes but after reporting at the Nexus and debriefing his crew, he's just too tired to continue. Sleep was pulling his lids close and he ran his hands over his face to stop it. It didn't work so he put his elbows on his desk and placed his heavy head over his hands. "SAM, can you go over this and mark the things that need to be corrected? I'll see it tomorrow," he instructed.
The globe-like projection on his left brightened as the AI replied. "Yes, Scott."
Scott sighed and pushed himself off the chair. He walked towards his bed, rubbing his eyes, when SAM spoke again. "One of the memories of Alec Ryder is now accessible. Do you wish me to play it now or tomorrow?"
Scott stopped in his tracks, not feeling sleepy anymore. Sadness wafted over him like a sea breeze as he remembered his father was dead and whatever he would hear from those logs would just be echoes of the past. Then the darker, uglier feelings arose, the ones he tried hard to bury, rose up, stronger and more potent as it festered in the recess of his mind and obliterating the love that gave his sadness a wistful edge. He remembered how SAM came to him; how Alec had forced him to depend on it. Those feelings he didn't voice out aloud; he knew people wouldn't understand why he'd be against something that was very helpful to them. Those people wouldn't understand the feeling of having their life ruled by someone else. Of standing in the shadow of a legend. Alec's family had revolved around Alec; where he went, there they'd be. He had nearly broken out but as usual, Alec had managed to draw him back and drag him all the way to a new galaxy. And then saddled him with his pet project.
Scott sighed and turned away. There was something shameful about reading something private. But still, Alec wouldn't leave him his private logs if he did not intend it to be read, would he?
He walked back to the desk and sat facing the AI node. "I am not going to see something embarrassing would I?"
"Please clarify."
This was one of the times he wished SAM was more than an AI, so it would not end up in situations where he had to spell things out, like right now.
"Just…go ahead, SAM," he relented, thinking his father would not choose something like an embarrassing memory to share with his son. As the lights of the AI spun, he leaned back in his seat as the recording lulled him into memories of his father.
Alec is in his room at the Hyperion. It is a quiet, peaceful night that not even the hum of the engines disturbs it. He stands in front of the window where the planet he has dedicated his life for and ultimately rejected him, resides. And in that silence, he draw out his omnitool to record his last thoughts before they depart for the unknown.
"The day is finally here. We're pushing off from Earth. We'll jump through the relays first and we'll hunker down for the long trip across dark space. It's daunting, thinking about the hopes and dreams of the Hyperion. I certainly have my own. I…wasn't the husband or the father I should've been."
He sighs, taking one last look at the planet they had called home. "Here's hoping. Here's hoping 600 years can change a man."
The memory ended and Scott blinked awake. He stared at the wall in front of him as he forced himself to remember what he had seen. Then when he reached the end, he put his hand over his eyes and hissed, "Dad, you idiot."
"Pardon?" SAM asked.
Scott rubbed his eyes for a while before he answered. "Did anyone tell him we'd be all asleep on those 600 years?"
The Pathfinding Team had escorted Ambassador Rialla and her staff to Aya. As usual, they transferred out of the Tempest which docked at the edge of the city and boarded the city shuttles to arrive at the governor's tower.
The ambassador, an indigo-skinned Asari with no face markings, looked out the window at the city with the tall towers with their interlocking branches, full of people going on their daily lives without a care in the world and exclaimed to Scott beside her, "How is this possible? It looks like there's no war going on."
Scott smiled as he glanced at the scene outside. From the situation they came from, it did look like they were in a dream whenever they go to Aya. The city felt like one of the prosperous cities they have back in the Milky Way. Like Illium.
However, Illium did not have the fragile beauty that Aya has. Behind the lights, the well-kept gardens, the lively shops and the parties that frequently occur in it, there's an edge of desperation hanging in its air, like rock pressing against the glass.
Their shuttle touched down on the landing pad on the Governor's tower. The shuttle doors swung up and they disembarked. Efvra and his retinue were waiting for them below and upon seeing them, turned his head towards him and asked, "Is this your Ambassador?"
Scott nodded and gestured at the Asari beside him. "This is Ambassador Rialla. Ambassador, this is Evfra de Tarshav, leader of the Angaran Resistance and Protector of the city of Aya,"
Evfra smiled pleasantly to the Ambassador, which was a surprise. "Ambassador Rialla, on behalf of Governor Paraan and the people of Aya, I welcome you to our city," he said smoothly.
Scott kept his face blank, resisting the urge to raise his brow at his unexpected pleasant demeanor. He expected Evfra would try to sabotage every attempt of theirs to establish a relationship with his people.
The ambassador smiled back. "Thank you. Please extend my gratitude to your people for welcoming me to your city."
Evfra nodded. "I'll be escorting you to the Governor's office. Please follow me," he said and turned to lead them.
They walked on the pathway connecting the landing pad to the tower then boarded an elevator down to the middle of the tower where the office of the governor was located.
They stepped off the elevator and walked a short passage curving around to the governor's office. There was a window with wide lattices at the side where they could look at the city; at the towers full of colorful dots of people lounging on the balconies or shopping at stores running alongside the curve of the tower while drones carrying packages buzz in the sky like bees in a lazy summer and passing through the projections of ads, scrolling down the air like waterfalls.
Scott thought the window might be a security concern but he remembered that they couldn't see the inside of this tower when they looked out from the shuttles.
As they walked, the ambassador expressing her amazement at the city while Evfra grinned beside her. Scott had to admit, being in Aya was like being in the better parts of the Presidium. It's unbelievable, but it was undeniable which contributed to Aya's dream-like quality. From their few passes through the city, he hasn't seen any slums or sections which looked grimy like Zakera Ward. Perhaps they are at the base of the tower where they haven't explored yet.
He suddenly felt a mischievous itch to explore the city to look for something that will disprove its perfection.
They reached the office and when the doors slid open, revealing the governor and her staff waiting in line to greet the Nexus ambassador. While the representative of the Angara and the representative of the Milky Way races exchanged greetings, Scott looked around the spacious room and found someone he did not expect to be still among the living.
At the far side of the Angaran contingent stood Commander Do Xeel, who caught him looking at her. Her color rippled to acknowledge him.
The governor led them to another room with a white, oblong table and asked them to take their seats. Paaran Shie and the arbiters along with Evfra were seated on one side of the conference table while the Initiative representatives were on the other. After an exchange of greetings, both sides talked about the content of the accords. The governor was pleased when the ambassador stated their agreement to leave the vault to the Angara while the Initiative settles the planets, but balked when Ambassador Rialla asked for protection.
"Our forces are fully committed to protecting our own worlds," Governor Paaran said. "And even if we have people and ships to spare, I doubt it will make a difference. We have recently discovered that the Kett made their troops out of our own people. Commander Do Xeel informed me that this was why we have not been able to progress; the Kett knew our strategies and knew how to counter them. The Families will object on the expense of providing the ships needed and the people mustered to man them on behalf of strangers on a plan that will not guarantee their survival nor success of their mission. I am sorry, but I cannot oblige you."
Scott interjected. "If the reason why you haven't been able to win this war is that the Kett knew your strategies, then what about learning new ones?" he suggested. "We could offer to share our own way of warfare."
The pupils of her eyes widened as she stared at him. "I suppose it can help," she said slowly. "Your tactic to infiltrate the Kett base was after all successful. She turned to Ambassador Rialla, "We approve of conducting joint exercises of our forces. In return, we will put your settlements under our protection. I will task this arrangement to Commander Do Xeel," she said, turning to the commander who flashed her agreement.
An idea formed in his head. "Can we do this at Eos?" he added, thinking of Bradley. "The person who knew most of our strategies is currently the director of our colony there. Unfortunately, he can't go off-planet because of the threat of the Kett outpost nearby."
The corners of the governor's lips quirked up. "Then the destruction of the outpost would have to be done first. We'll send a force to clear the planet. Evfra will assist you with this."
Evfra stared at her with his mouth slightly open. The governor met his stare and held it. He turned slowly away from her to face them. "As you say," he murmured, his skin murky as he frowned.
The Initiative finally safe, Scott leaned back in his seat and tuned out as the governor and the ambassador talked about trade, laws of conduct between parties and going over Angaran customs with the arbiters. They were still not finished when the light darkened outside the webbing like windows. The governor called the meeting to end and suggested they should continue the next day. She also informed the ambassador that they have already prepared a level to use for their embassy and they can retire there if they wished. As for Scott, she directed him to a tavetaan if he and his team wanted to have some recreational activities.
As the delegates poured out of the room, Scott sought out the fleet commander, who had anticipated his questions. She gestured at him to join her and walked to a corner of the office, near the window where they could look at the city outside.
"Commander Do Xeel," Scott greeted warmly at the Angaran fleet commander. He didn't particularly like her much, but he was extremely astounded at her survival. "It's great to see you."
She smiled, her face glowing. "Same to you. I am glad you are here because it meant you have succeeded in delivering the Moshae safe to us."
"I thought you were dead. You sound like you didn't expect to live last time we talked."
"I thought so too. But I was fated to live a little longer, I suppose," she answered and smiled wanly. "A talent and a curse, to survive again and again only to see the people around you die."
"I'm sorry to hear that," he said somberly and internally thanked his good fortune that he was not made to experience that yet. "How did you survive? Did the rest of the fleet made it with you?"
"Some of it. We engaged the destroyer until your ship was safely away, then played tag with it around the planet. Then we slipped away one by one. We were able to get away just in time to the other carrier before the Armada arrived."
He was struck dumb at her sheer audacity. He thought the Kett was invincible, yet here she was, free from their grasp. It took a lot of self-control to face death in the face without breaking in fear, and she had it.
"Wow. I…don't know what to say except be extremely impressed," he answered, his respect for her rising.
The commander looked pensively over the city, which was starting to light up, looking like an enchanted forest with the drones blinking lights like fireflies. "I had to. I had to get my fleet home. I already lost so much, I refused to lose one more," she said, her glow growing mellow. "I left here with four carriers filled with thirty-eight cruisers and two hundred twenty-eight frigates with another fleet. I returned here with a third of mine and a whole fleet lost."
He was about to express his sympathy with her loss but a thought occurred to him. He remembered her hostility when they first met and her irritation when they reported that they could not escape after the destroyer's attack. If he had not taken care to secure the Moshae in their ship, would she not have sacrificed her ships and left them to fend for themselves, thus saving her ships by sacrificing theirs? If they let her take the Moshae, would she uphold their promise to ally with them after they were killed?
It was troubling to think about and his awareness of it was starting to sour their alliance, which was supposed to be based on trust and friendship. They must trust each other or not at all. There were no half measures.
His generous heart would have liked him to have an optimistic view of it, but his cynical brain was doing its best to strangle it.
"And that's just because the Kett were holding back," the commander added, oblivious to his conflicting feelings.
He went still. "Holding…back?"
The commander's speckles brightened. "Before the attack on the facility, some of us believed they were simply lenient, hoping that they still had a heart beneath their vile exterior. We never expected they wanted us alive just to make more of them," she spat.
Ever since they met the destroyer, he thought about things the Kett can do with their destructive power by imagining what they would do if they have that power. His musings had not given him any solutions yet on better ways to protect themselves, but it revealed, in his opinion, a glaring flaw in the Kett's strategy. "Did they never tried to intimidate you with their power, like using their weapon to destroy one city and force you all to surrender?" he asked. If they were the Kett, they would have easily forced the surrender of the Angara by threatening complete destruction of one of their homeworlds. It's not like the Kett cared about being decent.
"They did not have the destroyers until thirty years ago. By then, they were less eager to capturing us, preferring to take the vaults."
He frowned. Did the Kett had a change of heart? Or they weren't as focused on complete assimilation of the Angara as they thought? What was really the Kett's true intentions?
He rubbed his head and dropped this line of thought. He couldn't guess at the Kett's true intentions without additional information so he changed the subject. "What's this about a lost fleet?"
The commander's face was half in shadow, but her eyes were bright as she answered, "You remember that I had to lure the destroyer out of the system? That was the purpose of the second fleet. The plan was for them to capture the vault on Remav. This vault was of special interest to the Kett and so we made a play to get it. They succeeded in drawing out the destroyer but," she held up her hands and let it fall, "something happened and none survived. We have no records about their battle."
He remembered the report of the Nexus team during the debriefing. "We've discovered that a planet on the system got destroyed."
"Yes. We saw it too. But none can get closer to investigate with its star currently unstable. We'll have to do long-distance observation with it to find what happened."
People had filled out of the room until they were one of the few left. Governor Paaran craned her neck around and saw them talking. She called the commander over to her.
Commander Do Xeel turned to Scott and smiled in apology. "Excuse me. I have to go. Perhaps we'll continue our talk tomorrow?"
Scott nodded. "No problem. See you then."
Commander Do Xeel made as if to turn away, but stopped and returned to him. "I'm sorry for treating you coldly when we first met," she confessed. "It was nothing personal; it was for the governor who I thought intended to insult me by foisting a foreigner on me to do my job."
"I understand; think nothing of it," he assured her. If he was in her shoes, he'd probably react the same way too.
She moved away to go to the Governor's side and he walked out of the office to find his crew.
The tavetaan was located on one of the recreation-oriented towers. To go there from the governor's tower, they had to ride the trains, which felt more like riding a roller-coaster. Levels of the tower were dedicated to all forms of entertainment they could think of. There were arcades and opera halls and bars of every type. There were theaters with immersive environments, showcasing their vids through holo-projections. But more numerous were venues holding competitions of everything anyone can think of. Poetry competitions, singing competitions, fighting competitions, story-telling competitions, design competitions, cooking competitions and all competitions they could think of. Most of it was undertaken by the males, while the females cheer on the sidelines or sat aloof. At every level, there seems to be at least one competition where it seems they are broadcasted live to other Angaran worlds. All of this made Scott think that the Angara seems to be very fond of competition and noted that perhaps being competitive was a trait they value.
Far above them were supply ships plying to and fro the moon, twinkling like slow-moving meteors at night. Aya became the main manufacturing center of the Angaran world, due to Aya being placed in the safest part of the cluster. The Onaon system was like an island in the middle of the river of the Shroud which flowed from the fringes of the Heleus cluster to plunge at the black hole in its center. Aya was hidden from outside due to space being bent by both the Shroud and the black hole. Since the space around Aya was always turbulent, the Kett couldn't penetrate it, not even with their destroyer, even if they knew where to hit. But the Angara has found a way to somehow calm the turbulence made by the Shroud, using the space to sail from Aya to their homeworlds, delivering supplies and support for the war.
As for the city itself, it was made of towers with interweaving passages between them. It was mostly made of a white, translucent, material in the daytime, the better to show off the more colorful Angara. Lines of color moved and swirled with the movement of the people living in the city. Thus, the color of the city varies each day. It was the first instance where Scott saw a city that incorporated the people living in it as part of its decor. Watching the city change colors was as mesmerizing as a dreaming octopus.
Most of the shops and restaurants are placed on the sides of the tower so there were balconies to dine in should people wish for fresh air, under a canopy of green and blue glass. There was an abundance of plants used as decoration, most of it with waxy, dark green leaves, which gave the effect of walking through a jungle if the floor was made of marble. In one of levels, Scott found his team seated on an open-air bistro.
Scott slid onto an unoccupied stool and leaned onto the edge of the table. "So, how's being a tourist?" he asked with a grin. It dropped when his crew answered him with miserable faces. "What?"
At the other end, Gil raised his mug filled a bluish, frothing liquid. "The drinks are nice, but the food could use some spice. We can't live on alcohol alone." He slid a plate containing something like shelled snails, if the snails were striped yellow and green and drizzled with cream. "Here, try it yourself."
Scott took a prong from the basket of utensils and prod at one. He twirled the food with his prod first. "Looks appetizing," he remarked sarcastically before putting it in his mouth. He expected to immediately vomit, but that did not happen. Aside from being chewy, he couldn't taste anything. He swallowed and smacked his lips. "Hmm, delicious. Tastes like water."
Angaran food was not that bad really, but it was bland despite having a wonderful aroma. Their drinks were the only consumables that could satisfy the Tempest's crew's tastes.
Marcus grinned and then cast a look around them. Then from underneath the table, he brought out a few foil packets and slid them across to him. 'Here, put this on that."
"Did you nick this from our kitchen?" Scott said as he took the packets.
Marcus shrugged. "It's either that or starve to death."
Scott tore off a corner of one and found sriracha, which he poured over his dish. It tasted miles better now.
"So, where'd you all been?" he asked his crew between bites. He hadn't realized he was so hungry.
"We've been around this tower. Did you know the Angara loves to compete a lot? We've seen at least fifteen competitions from this tower alone."
"And the stores. You should have seen the things they're selling. I'd wish the Nexus hurry up with the currency exchange," Cora said.
Scott frowned down at the dish he was eating. "Then how did you pay for this?"
They grinned at Vetra. "Don't be mad at me Scott, but I've traded away some of our junk, she said. "Nothing important. The Angara thinks they're novelty items. I'll turn over the money to you later."
They heard steps behind them and turned around to find K running towards them. When she stopped in front of them, she dropped her hands on her knees and panted.
"Where have you been? We've been looking all over for you," Cora asked, concerned.
"Sorry. I had to help out a…friend," K replied and stood up. The buttons on her jacket were mismatched.
"A friend?" Scott asked with a smile as the others scooted to make room for her. "You've already made friends? Lucky you." Apparently, for some reason, he was destined to only interact with Angara who is either hostile, skeptical, mocking or imperious, only needing him to run errands.
K shifted her weight from one foot to the other. "Er, no, not exactly a friend."
"Then what?"
K took a seat beside Scott. "Something. I'm not sure. It all started when I caught Suvi one day licking a rock from Eos."
Suvi who was seated in front of Gil sputtered over her drink as they glanced at her.
"You were licking a rock?" Marcus beside her asked with narrowed eyes.
Suvi gave K a slightly dismayed look before turning to answer Marcus. "Licking is a valid way to determine rocks from fossils," she said defensively."You can tell its basic mineral composition by how it sticks to your tongue." She added sheepishly, "I did it unconsciously. I forgot it was a Heleus rock."
Scott looked from Suvi to K. "And what does that had to do with you?"
"She said there are some things your senses pick up that the scanner can't and those data shouldn't be wasted just because of a different methodology," K answered. "I said that's a nifty trick so I thought I'd use it too."
"On people?" Cora asked, both indignant and astounded.
"Well, why not?" K said with a shrug and dug her fork into her food. "I certainly discovered some things that you can't get by using a scanner. For instance, your tongue will feel tingly if you lick them. Apparently, they produce electricity when aroused. Also, licking is their gesture for intimacy, unlike some of us where kissing is the precursor to intimacy. But kissing is just a greeting to them."
"I think every race sees licking each other as intimacy," Marcus said, holding his sides, trying to keep his laughter in.
K beamed at him. "So you do understand. Anyway, me licking him made him think that I was interested in him and so, being just as curious as I am, we followed where that led."
They stared at her, Cora making a sharp intake of breath. "You did not," she breathed out, challenging her to disprove it to her disbelieving face.
K smiled triumphantly. "I did! I did. Why not? Do you know I've found?" she asked them, with a mischievous smile, looking from one to the other.
"Nope," Scott replied immediately.
"No," Marcus seconded.
"We already know what happens between two people in a room. We really don't need to hear the details," Vetra added.
K's looked from one disinterested face to the other and her smile dropped. "I don't believe this. I can't believe this! I can't believe you're here, about to hear one of the most exciting discoveries we have in our history after we arrived here and you can't even bother to listen?"
"Can't you just put it in a paper?" Marcus whined. "Not all of us have to hear it."
"Then what are we here for if not making discoveries?" K insisted, almost shouting. "Why are we here for if we're just going through everything blind, deaf and dumb to everything around us? Aren't you curious? Don't you want to unravel the mysteries of this galaxy?"
"Alright, K. Let's hear it then," Scott said, which made the others groan. "C'mon, guys, what can I do?" He asked them. "She's that dedicated. Do you want to waste her efforts?"
"Fine," Vetra relented, like a defeated parent worn down by their child's antics. "Alright, K. What else did you found?"
K's smiled and widened. "They use electricity during sex! He said they have to stimulate each other via electricity to induce bonding!" she announced happily, which made her companions groan again, with some like Scott who lowered their head to their face. But she ignored that and blathered on. "Sadly, it doesn't go well with us Asari. He showed me his electricity thingy and when I tried to show my biotic thingy while he was on me, he flew out the window. Mass effect, you know. Electricity and biotics just don't mix well."
They stared at her again. "Wait, you said he flew out the window?" Scott asked, with a glance all around the towers around them with no ground-level building on sight. "Where are you when this happened?"
"In his apartment, of course. Over there," she said and pointed at one of the towers near the horizon. She was pointing near the top though.
They gaped at it for a second then started interrogating her. "What happened to him? Is he dead?" Scott asked while the others frantically tried to contact their ambassador regarding a possible crisis.
"Oh, he's alive. He landed on top of a passing train below. The Angara can survive falling from ten floors up. It's the extra joint in their legs, you see," she explained, which made them relax a little.
"So, where's he now?" Cora asked.
"He's in jail. When he fell out the window, he was naked and then he landed squatting on the roof of the train. Which has a clear roof with uh, commuters underneath."
They gaped at her again, but with their eyes wider.
"The train immediately stopped," she continued, due to their silence. "Then their police showed up. You know, the big, mean Angara who doesn't like us very much? Anyway, they had him hauled to jail for public indecency. That big Angara isn't very nice to his own people either. when I arrived there to give him clothes, I heard him say to poor -, "Congratulations, you've lived long enough to be an embarrassment."
"Yeah. That's something Evfra would say," Scott said mechanically. He was still bothered by the image of the Angara falling on the clear train roof and the commuters' probable reactions.
"It is? Well, he sure is an equal opportunity asshole."
Marcus started laughing.
"So you had a fun time," Cora said uncomfortably. "Lesson learned. Do not have relations with the Angara until we know possible risks. Now, can we move on?"
"That's not what the lesson is," K protested.
Vetra put a hand to her temple. "Oh, spirits. Is there more?" she exclaimed.
"Asari can mate with them. Isn't that great? This means my race can survive. We are not doomed to be inbred," K pronounced, waving her arms up.
"Congratulations, from the people who can't breed with them," Vetra said pointedly.
"I thought you'd be more sympathetic, Vetra," K said, hurt. "After all, your ark hasn't arrived yet and there's too little of you to maintain the quality of your genetic pool."
"And just like that," the Turian clicked her talons, "this conversation turned depressing." this was followed by a somber silence as the implications of the missing arks sank in.
"We'll find them, Vetra, don't worry," Scott said. "But what could have been taking them so long? Do you think the Shroud has something to do with it?"
"Maybe," Cora answered. "Maybe they haven't found a way to get in."
"That's certainly better than the alternative," Vetra said. They agreed in silence brought by a fear that if they said that possibility aloud, then it might become true.
"I wonder where the Turian ark is," Scott said.
Not one of them had an answer so he turned his attention to the sky, wondering if one of the lights twinkling above held the secret of the arks. But the void remained silent.
K cleared her throat. "Anyway, if you want to have a go at the Angara, I've made a battery you can use," she said, waving the gadget in their face while they stared at her.