Of Clichés and Tropes

Chapter 3- Planet Weird

The escape pod soon entered the atmosphere, Sakura and SAM working to make sure the pod didn't burn up on re-entry.

After descending dozens of kilometers, they were flying over a vast forest.

SAM was heard. "Landing zone located, marked."

Sakura guided the pod to the clearing marked, the only one for many kilometers. "Get ready for landing!"

The escape pod brushed the crowns of trees. They barely felt the bump when the pod landed on the ground, and skidded across the clearing, leaving a long smoking landing trench.

Sakura sat in her seat, shivering slightly.

She couldn't help but think about how few were fortunate enough to save their loved ones from the Kett like this. How many may have tried, and failed. How many might have gotten so close, only to die, or be taken too.

And the thought of, if they had failed, if they lost Jaal. How would she tell his truemother Sahuna? How would she break the news? Sahuna lost her husband years ago to the Kett, they never knew what happened to him. Then Jaal's older brother. Then his younger sister. To lose Jaal also and not know what happened would be devastating.

SAM's calm voice nearly startled her. "Analysis of the conditions outside nearly match those of Earth. Ninety Nine percent. Air is breathable, no toxins detected." A pause. "It is apparent you are in shock at what has transpired."

"That is quite...implausible." Sakura sighed deeply. "I am. Can you imagine how the others felt? Seeing their loved ones snatched away by the Kett and unable to do anything?"

SAM's pause lasted quite a few seconds. "While I may be an AI, I have some understanding based on your reactions. Recommend speaking to Jaal and Peebee."

"Thanks." Sakura unbuckled herself from the seat. She could clearly see it was a brightly lit night, a full moon in the sky. Would be a romantic night if it wasn't for the fact we just escaped the Kett and are on an uncharted world.

She walked to the rear of the pod. Peebee was unbuckling herself, having recovered somewhat. She removed a rations bar used mainly by biotics to keep up calorie intake or after expending a lot of energy, from a pouch attached to her armor at the waist, and opened it. She started eating quickly.

Jaal had undid his restraints, stood up, and placed a hand on the wall for support. "Sakura, can we do a scan?"

The Pathfinder activated her omni-tool. "Yes. We need to do this, so Lexi knows." She activated the scanner.

The results popped up on her omni-tool display screen.

Medical Scan complete.

Toxins detected.

Neurodepressant detected.

Bioelectric field suppressing agent detected. Not life-threatening but medical attention recommended.

Solar energy restricting toxin. Medical attention required, not life-threatening if exposed to adequate sunlight.

SAM was heard. "Just as expected."

Jaal looked at Sakura, taking deep breaths. "Tell her that-" He was trembling, appeared to be on the verge of tears, his voice growing shaky. "That the skkutting Ascendant...used the same syringes that we've seen for Exaltation...and the skkutter messed with me by saying they may or may not have the Exaltation fluid in them."

From her seat, Peebee gasped. "By the Goddess..."

"Oh, Jaal. I am so sorry." Sakura hurriedly finished adding the remaining info."SAM, send this to Lexi as soon as you can." She had seen this before. It is what the Kett do to high priory prisoners, or those they really don't want to have escape.

SAM was heard. "Consider it done."

Sakura turned off her omni-tool, tears welling up in her eyes. She looked at Jaal, hugged him tightly, then buried her face into his neck, tears ran down her cheeks. "I-I was so afraid I was going to lose you. That they would E...Exalt you."

Jaal hugged back tightly, trembling,. "To say I was terrified would be an understatement. I was certain I wouldn't be seeing you, or anyone I knew, again." Tears flowed down his cheeks, drops ending up in Sakura's hair. "To finally hear your voice again brought great relief."

SAM intoned. "Recommend moving soon. The Kett will know you're no longer on their ship, and turn back to the general area of where the escape pod was launched."

Sakura and Jaal released their embrace.

Sakura knew he was right. The Kett will eventually find the planet, and when they do, they better have made themselves scarce. "We need to get going."

Peebee swallowed the last of the rations bar. She wrapped up the foil and put it back into her pocket for later recycling. She stood up from her seat "Agreed. I don't want any of us to get picked apart by Kett scientists. Or be Exalted."

Sakura shivered at the thought, and banished it from her mind. She took her Ushior pistol from her holster at the waist, her lightest weapon, and gave it to Jaal. "Use this."

Jaal took the weapon. "Thank you."

Sakura took her blue Remnant Sweeper assault rifle from her back.

Sakura turned to Peebee. "Open the hatch. We're going to explore, and figure out what world we landed on." Hope the natives are Angara, would really help things.

Peebee nodded with a smile. "Excited to explore. Uncharted world, new possibilities!" She hit the hatch release button. "And we won't be sitting ducks in here for the Kett to take."

The hatch opened and cool, fresh air rushed in.

Peebee jumped to the scorched dirt first followed by Sakura. Jaal carefully stepped down, assisted by Sakura and Peebee.

Sakura observed their surroundings. The air was cool, though not chilly. A breeze was gently blowing across the clearing. She observed the trees faintly lit by moonlight, they looked like Earth trees. Strange. Maybe the work of the Jardaan? If we can cross dark space, they could too.

Jaal moved closer to Sakura, Ushior readied. "I don't have a good feeling about this place."

Sakura readied her Remnant Sweeper assault rifle. "A good reason for us to be on guard."

Peebee had done likewise with her own pistol.

SAM was heard. "I am currently detecting an artificial structure one hundred fifty hundred meters ahead."

Sakura nodded once. "Let's go."

Sakura took point, Jaal to the right, Peebee to the left.

The team came within view. And it became obvious that the artificial structure was a road.

Sakura activated the scanner, and the scan results came in. Her eyes widened. "Composition is similar to the old Earth roads..." She looked up to the stars. "SAM, are you sure we're still in Andromeda, in the Heleus cluster?"

SAM's voice was heard, slightly confused. "Yes, we couldn't have crossed two point five million light years in an escape pod."

Sakura knew SAM was right. "Just log the things we find. We could be on Planet Weird for all we know."

Peebee chuckled. "That, or someone in Andromeda was a major fan of Earth architecture."

Sakura looked at the Asari. "Wouldn't be the first." She looked ahead. "Best course of action is to follow it, by the side."

The team headed onward alongside the road.

Sakura activated her omni-tool. "SAM, can you contact the Tempest?"

SAM intoned. "Can't establish normal communications. But can place a tracking signal. They are currently seven light years from here. Dropped out of the Kett cruiser's FTL wake shortly after we crash landed."

Sakura nodded once. "Thanks, SAM." She deactivated the omni-tool.

Peebee looked at the sky. "When they arrive, we should not be in the open. Or they'll find us."

Sakura looked at the Asari. "Which is why we need to find a structure to hide in. A building would be nice, a town or city would be better." They'd hopefully have a military force.

Peebee walked slightly ahead. "I think I see something."

Sakura noticed it as well. A sign alongside the road. "That's certainly, and not just in one way, a good sign."

As they approached the sign, Sakura felt a sense of unease. Haven't I seen this somewhere before? She couldn't shake that feeling of unease, of having seen this somewhere.

Now on closer inspection, it didn't look inviting. Made of wood, the faded letters strangely were in English- 'Campy Crystal Lake'. The 'y' apparently was added by someone trying to make a joke. Most unsettling was the fact there was three burn marks to the left side, almost as if left by a trident.

Sakura turned on her scanner, and scanned the sign. She looked at the results. "The wood is similar to some species of trees on Earth. Paint composition is similar to what was used on Earth in the nineteen eighties. The spray painted 'y''s chemical composition is similar to the kind of spray paint used by vandals back on Earth." Sakura shook her head. "How is this possible? Even if the Jardaan came to the Milky Way and got the idea, this much similarity is just..."

Jaal placed a hand on her shoulder. "Try not to think about it too hard. Like I said before, back on that Remnant space station the Kett called Khi Tasira, I don't think too deeply when it comes to the Remnant. I've seen people go mad trying to understand them." He looked at the sign. "And I really don't have a good feeling about this place."

Sakura looked at the sign also. "Me too. We need to figure out what's going on, before whatever this is takes us by surprise." And considering our conditions…exhausted from fighting, Peebee having overpowered a parasitic Exalted, and Jaal poisoned..."Peebee, if we find something like a corpse, put up a barrier. And conserve your energy for the technique."

Peebee nodded. "Understood."

Sakura turned to Jaal. "Stick close. SAM will assist as well."

Sakura pointed her pistol down the path leading to where the camp was likely to be. "Let's go." Splitting the party would be the worst idea in the cluster, worse than the idea of mixing Ryncol, Batarian ale, and Turian brandy.

The amount of moonlight filtering into the path was severely reduced by the trees. But still barely visible. The team's weapon-mounted flashlights helped in the darkness.

Peebee pointed her weapon along one side of the path. "Is it just me, or is it way too quiet?"

Sakura kept hers pointed downrange. "Not just you, feels like...something...is here..."

SAM intoned. "Nothing within range, but recommend staying alert."

Sakura heard Jaal breathing more quickly than normal. "Jaal, are you okay?"

"This is...terrifying." Jaal walked close by Sakura. "What if something snatches us one by one from the shadows?"

Sakura put a hand on Jaal's shoulder. "It'll be okay. We've got biotics. And Peebee went as close as as she could get to 'biotic goddess' on that Exalted Asari. They'd have every reason to fear her now. And if they tried to touch you, they'd quickly learn what 'enraged Pathfinder' means."

Peebee's voice was shaky. "Uh...I think I see something..."

Sakura quickly pointed her weapon at where Peebee was pointing hers.

A bloodstain running down a tree.

Slowly, she raised her weapon. Upwards until she saw still legs, bloodstained torso, a tree branch right through where the Human heart would be, dark skin, and finally a face. The face of a man who died screaming in terror. "What. The. Fuck." And he looks Human...I suspect Jardaan...

Peebee quickly holstered her pistol and put up the biotic barrier shielding herself, the Pathfinder, and Jaal. "Do we have some sicko on the loose here?!"

"Wouldn't be surprised." She slowly approached with the other two beside her. "Scanner time, we need to find out what in the name of the Heleus cluster is going on here." A scan later and she read the results. "Time of death two-three hours ago. Cause of death indicated to be puncture wound through the heart. And he died feeling immense terror."

Jaal shook his head. "Skkut. What kind of monster are we dealing with here?"

Sakura turned to Jaal. "I am not sure. Have you seen Kett kill like this?"

Jaal shook his head. "No, not that I know of. But considering their butchery..."

The Pathfinder deactivated her omni-tool and looked down the path. "We should get going, standing around just doesn't look like a good idea."

The team continued; Sakura leading, Jaal beside her, and Peebee behind them holding up the biotic barrier.

Sakura advanced cautiously. A wooden house sat to the right of the path. "Maybe someone's alive in there?"

The team approached the front door.

Peebee looked at the sign next to it, which read 'Camp Crystal Lake Counselor Lounge.'

Sakura approached the door, still in the safety of the barrier which ended just before the door, and knocked.

No reply.

She knocked again. "Hello? Is anyone in there?"

Peebee shook her head. "I don't think anyone's home."

Sakura tried the doorknob, and fount it unlocked. "Why would it be unlocked if a monster is on the loose?" She slowly opened it.

Peebee approached to make sure Sakura was still in the barrier.

Jaal kept close to the Asari.

With the door opened, Sakura gasped. In the living area, there was chairs, tables, assorted furniture, all made of wood. But what caught her eye was a fireplace.

A lit fireplace with a blackened corpse.

Sakura had to restrain her fear. "This is looking like one of those slasher movies." She shuddered, activated her omni-tool. And turned on the scanner.

She approached the fireplace, and scanned the corpse. "According to results...this poor guy died two to three hours ago, after the one we found on the tree. Burned alive, some broken bones which imply he was kicked back in after trying to escape." She shivered. "What kind of sadistic monster are we dealing with here?"

Jaal looked at the stairs leading to the second floor. "Sakura..."

The Pathfinder looked also. And spotted a blood trail along the floor. She scanned it. "Two to three hours old...around the time the guy in the fireplace died." She followed the trail, the team close behind.

The blood trail lead upstairs, to the second floor. And down the hall to…

Sakura took a step back.

There was a dead corpse, hung on coat racks.

Peebee swore loudly. "By the Goddess! This monster is just as bad as the Kett, in a different way!"

Jaal looked at the Asari. "Only thing missing is transformation."

Sakura sighed. "I really hope whatever monster it is doesn't do that to its victims. It's bad enough with the Kett." Sakura approached cautiously and scanned the corpse. "Died an hour ago...he must have ran into the monster, or was fleeing it..."

A scream rang in the distance.

Sakura nearly jumped, pulling out her Sweeper. "SAM, any idea where that came from?!"

SAM intoned. "Not certain, beyond my body heat sensor range. But based on audio detection, came from deep in the woods."

Jaal sighed. "Skkutting stars, we're not going in there."

Sakura turned to Jaal. "We're not. Last thing I want is for whatever it is to take us one by one if we go into the woods off the path. I've seen enough horror vids to know that's a terrible idea."

Sakura glanced out the window with Peebee and Jaal.

Far off into the darkness, there was flashes of what appeared to be a fiery yellow-orange. And when she looked closer, it looked like a face.

What?! Sakura rubbed her eyes, she looked out the window, and it was gone. "Did anyone see that?"

Jaal rubbed his eyes as well. "I don't know if I did...or if its hallucinations brought on by the toxins..."

Peebee was holding the barrier one-handed, having rubbed her eyes as well. "Something is out there, I just know it.

Sakura looked back out the window. "You are right, we need to keep going."

The rest of the house was clear, no more corpses, or the monster.

With it explored, the team left.

Jaal turned to the Pathfinder. "Is turning back an option?"

Sakura shook her head. "No, unfortunately. We don't know what planet we're on, how long until the Tempest arrives, and we don't know if the monster might have done this to other nearby places. Or if there's more than one monster."

Sakura lead the team down the path past the house of horrors with extreme caution.

Not too much later, they came upon a campsite.

Sakura whispered. "The fire's still alight, meaning..."

As they crept closer, it became apparent it wasn't a scene of peace, but of horror.

Hanging over the campfire was a sleeping bag, close by, were two sleeping bags, one on top of another.

Peebee's voice was one of worry. "Be careful, it might be a trap."

Sakura activated her scanner. "Stay alert for anything that sounds like footsteps. Or that...whatever we saw earlier." She scanned the sleeping bag roasting over the open flame, and gasped. "Died fifteen minutes ago. Cause of death...burned alive."

She scanned the sleeping bags on the ground next. "Bottom one...blunt force trauma. Top one, apparently smashed into a tree and broken back. Time of death estimated one hour ago." She paused. "What is going on here?!"

Jaal was shivering. "When the Tempest arrives, we need to get out of here, mystery solved or not."

Sakura looked at Jaal. "Agreed, before whatever is behind these...brutal killings does it to us too." She continued down the path with the team following. Her mind conjured up some horrific images of what the monster might do to them if they got caught. Jaal getting his neck flaps torn off, Peebee having her fringes peeled off, and herself having her limbs ripped off. Don't think about that! Focus on finding it before it finds us.

A crack was heard.

Sakura froze. "Did you hear-"

Peebee looked down and saw Sakura had stepped on a small branch. "Just a twig..."

Sakura sighed. "Getting scared by small things...we really need a vacation after this mission."

The team approached the main campground.

Sakura took notice of the lone vehicle. "Looks like a car from Earth, nineteen eighties." She saw the lone occupant inside, and the many lacerations across his body. "Another victim..." She activated her scanner and read the results. "Died from multiple severe lacerations. Time of death was about twenty minutes ago." She scanned the car itself. "This is strange, so similar to the old Earth cars." She took note of its operational status. "Inoperable. Damn. Like in many horror vids. Was hoping we could use it."

SAM intoned. "Incoming transmission from the Tempest."

Sakura activated her omni-tool and accepted the transmission.

On the vid-screen was Cora. "Finally!"

Sakura sighed in relief. "Glad to hear from you. This planet...I don't know what's up with it but when you get here, we're out of here faster than a ship jumping to FTL."

Cora spoke. "Sounds like there's something bad on the planet. We're in-system. Will be there soon.

Sakura nodded once. "Thanks. Sakura out."

Cora did likewise. "See you soon. Cora out."

Sakura turned off her omni-tool.

Two buildings had been explored, now two remain.

One contained a fifteen minute old corpse, a dead female who tried to hide under a bed, and was stabbed with a blade that went through the bed into the unfortunate soul. Almost like whatever is killing people here was hunting.

The second held more horrors. Three unfortunate dead people. One was nailed with a nail gun to the wall, another had his head crushed while wearing headphones and apparently reading, and the last was ripped in half. Somehow the monster got him from below. They quickly headed back outside, fearing the monster might get ideas. These gruesome kills had happened over a half-hour ago.

The team headed to another building, the door was open.

They cautiously entered.

The living area was largely empty of horrors, except for...

Sakura gasped. "What happened here?!"

There was a stream of blood coming from under one of the doors.

SAM intoned. "Be alert."

The team advanced towards the door. Peebee held up the barrier still. Jaal pointed his Ushior pistol straight at the door. Sakura held her assault rifle in one hand and opened the door.

It was a bedroom. And the trial of blood was coming from…

Two corpses on the bed, with a chainsaw through them.

"What the…!" Sakura activated her scanner and read the results. "What. The. Hell. Died ten minutes ago. Pretty obvious they died from the chainsaw." Sakura shook her head. "Why would anyone have sex during a monster attack?! That's...just so dumb!" Her voice betrayed her exasperation. "That's the last thing I'd do if I knew there was a monster on the loose."

Peebee took a look at the scanner results, which indicated that the two died while having sex, via the monster ramming the chainsaw into the both of them at once. "Twisted. And sick."

A scream of terror rang out.

The Pathfinder team headed quickly outside, and there was only one building they hadn't yet explored. They ran to the building.

Just as they reached the door, the prongs of a trident stabbed through the door, burning holes. And the trident appeared to be aflame with some kind of hellish heat. Someone's dying screams echoed and the infernal weapon was quickly removed, leaving scorch marks and blood stains along the sides of the hole.

Jaal froze. "The monster...is on the other side..."

Sakura readied a biotic Lance. "Get ready. On my count! 3, 2, 1!" She threw the Lance hard, blasting the door off its hinges. It landed on the floor some distance into the building.

The team stood, ready, but the monster wasn't there anymore, they cautiously entered the structure.

Sakura activated her scanner, and scanned the corpse near the blown away door, three burned holes in the torso from the trident. "Stab through heart, died moments ago." She looked up and saw a blood trail going out the window. "Someone's hurt, let's go."

Inside the Tempest on the bridge, Cora watched the planet come closer. She placed her hands on the observation platform railing.

Suvi sat at the control console to her left. She looked at the sensors. "They're going a bit...strange."

Liam stood beside her. "That's odd. Have seen enough vids to know this means trouble..." He looked at Suvi. "I hope it's not like some crazy time dilation planet where a hundred years pass for the rest of the universe for every hour on the planet."

The Pathfinder team approached the lake, wary.

The blood trail stopped at a gruesome sight.

Sakura activated her scanner. "Died recently." She had to swallow bile. "Machete, stabbed in throat and...pulled down."

Peebee's voice was a bit shaky. "Two...more."

Sakura noticed the bodies.

She scanned one a short distance away. "Died shortly after the other one. Broken spine." She scanned the one near the water. "Drowned. Shit, they died close together." She looked at the water, while she and the team kept their distance. "Stay way from the water, I've seen enough horror vids to know that bad things can happen if one gets too close to large bodies of water."

Curses and shouting echoed from the distance.

Sakura looked in the direction. "Let's go, carefully."

Her teammates followed closely.

Peebee heard the curses loud and clear, she whispered. "We're getting close."

Jaal staggered a bit.

Sakura motioned to catch him if he did fall. "Are you okay?"

"Not feeling well." Jaal looked at her. "We need to get to the Tempest, so Lexi can do a deeper medical scan."

As they neared the source, they heard shouting and the sound of someone punching. And the voice, most likely male, screaming. "I bet your mother was a pussy butch!"

The air felt as if it changed, became filled with arcane energy.

And soon they heard screaming.

The Pathfinder team, still partially hidden behind bushes, saw a man, an athlete or fighter, impaled on the end of a trident.

And the trident belonged to some humanoid creature, holding the weapon one-handed with apparently no effort. It looked like it could've been a Human, but was glowing with Hellfire cracks. And the hockey mask, it could be mistaken for metal, but really was charred black by what appeared to be literal Hellfire.

And the eyes. The eyes and the general 'face' was like what they saw earlier.

Sakura aimed her rifle. "Drop that man, now!"

Her order was ignored, for the Hell beast drove his other hand into the man's chest, and ripped out his still beating heart, then showed it to his victim.

The man hacked blood. "N...No! I...need that!"

The demonic fiend crushed the heart like it was nothing, killing his victim. The monster dropped the heart, and pushed the corpse off his trident. And the now limp body fell to the ground with a thud.

Sakura switched to her Isharay in a hurry, and lined up the creature's head in her scope. And fired.

A loud bang echoed through the forest. But the creature merely lurched sideways, head hanging, before righting itself. The monster looked at the team with murderous intent.

Sakura was wide eyed, voice shaky. "What...is he?!"

From Peebee's heavy breathing, Sakura knew she was running low on energy.

Sakura heard the Tempest fly overhead.

SAM intoned. "Landing zone is back on the road we were on."

Jaal quickly raised his Ushior, and fired twice, the same result with the sniper, for the demon's head was forced backwards.

Sakura held her Remnant weapon one handed and sent a powerful biotic Throw at the monster.

The demon was struck center of mass and laid flat, but the Pathfinder knew he wouldn't stay still for long.

It'll kill us all if we stay. She looked at Jaal, then Peebee. "I've got an idea."

Sakura sprinted down the path leading to the road, biotic aura alight. Jaal riding piggyback.

Peebee was close behind, holding up the biotic barrier, the Ushior and Remnant Sweeper were attached to her armor's back magnetic attachments.

SAM intoned. "Incoming transmission."

Sakura's comms activated.

Cora was heard. "We've landed."

Sakura spoke. "Running as fast as we can now, using biotics."

SAM inputted his observations. "An ingenious strategy. Knowing Jaal was severely weakened, and knowing what biotics are capable of, she is now carrying him piggyback, as the Humans called it. With Peebee maintaining a biotic barrier."

Lexi was heard. "That's an extremely advanced technique..."

Sakura kept running, the road in sight. "I know, heard its advanced even for Asari."

Cora added to Lexi's statement. "My instructor back on Thessia would be impressed by what you're doing."

Sakura followed by Peebee reached the road, and saw the Tempest a few hundred meters down the road to their left.

Sakura looked at Peebee. "Let's sprint this!" She ran as fast as her biotics would allow her to, with Peebee close behind holding the barrier.

Sakura caught sight of a glow out the corner of her eye.

Somehow, the demon was keeping up at a stroll between trees. Much like what she saw in vids sometimes- a villain teleporting off screen when the camera wasn't on them. And it was carrying its infernal trident.

Midway to the Tempest, Peebee felt something amiss. "Sakura, to the left, dodge!" She dodged to the right.

The Pathfinder quickly dodged to the left.

And Peebee's instincts were spot on, for the infernal trident had been used as a projectile, sliced through Peebee's barrier like it wasn't even there. It flew through the air and missed the Asari, Jaal, and Sakura by less than an inch, and embedded itself into the road, inflicting a constant burning to the surface.

Cora screamed through the comms. "Run! I'll slow him down!" A flare blast flew through the air and struck the demon behind them.

Sakura increased her biotic aura strength, pushing beyond her limits and immediately dashed straight for the Tempest.

Peebee was right on her heels, not using her barrier from earlier for it was useless against the demon.

They ran up the ramp and past Cora, who was with the rest of the team.

Cora glared at the approaching demon who was now almost to its trident. "With me, blast that Goddess-damned monster with everything!" She made a gesture, and threw a Flare blast at the creature, then repeated her movements until a train of them were flying through the air.

Vetra had her big gun, and was using Turbocharge at maximum power, which enhanced Drack's already devastating Incinerate blasts from his shotgun.

Liam was using Sakura's old M-8 Avenger from when they first arrived in Andromeda, even if it wasn't as strong, Vetra's Turbocharge had turned it into an even more deadly weapon.

A brilliant blue-white-red explosion engulfed the monster, and grew bigger as the relentless assault continued.

Suvi was heard. "I believe it is dead, no longer detecting movement.

The team stopped their attacks, and sure enough, the demon was laying prone. But it soon twitched, sat up, and quickly got on its feet. Then ripped the trident out of the road with ease.

A feeling of inedible killing intent washed over everyone standing near the ramp, even Drack was frozen stiff.

Cora was barely able to speak, fear in her voice. "G-get us out of here! Now! Before we all die!"

Kallo immediately replied. "Taking off now!"

The landing ramp closed, and soon the Tempest was flying towards space.

Kallo was heard over the intercom. "Gil, we need to crank up the FTL as fast as we can go. Anything that can rattle Cora like that...we need to get away from this planet as fast as possible."

Soon the Tempest was in FTL flight.

Lexi looked over her datapad.

Kallo was heard over the intercom. "Pathfinder, I set the FTL nav to Havarl before we jumped. Is that where you want to go?"

Sakura smiled. "Yes. Jaadeen, Havarl. I imagine its closest as well?"

Kallo quickly replied. "Yes, two days travel time."

"Thanks." Sakura looked at Lexi.

The Asari doctor turned her attention to Jaal. "Considering your condition, you should stay here until we can get the toxins removed."

The Asari eyed Sakura, with raised brows. "That move you pulled...you came close to burning out. So you will be staying here overnight.

And last, Peebee. "Need a lot of rest, don't use your biotics for the next few days." She paused. "Can you assist Drack, Cora and Vetra in setting up the Angaran sunlamp?"

Peebee nodded once. "Yes." She stood up and left the medbay.

Sakura stood up from the bed and walked to Jaal. She took his hand into hers. "Are you okay?"

Jaal's blue eyes were on her. "With you here, yes." A shaky sigh. "Though I feel terribly unwell."

Sakura kissed Jaal on the forehead. "Get some rest, I will go tell Sahuna what happened."

Sakura walked to the vidcon console. "SAM, contact Sahuna on Havarl."

Sam was heard. "Connecting..."

Soon, Sahuna's image appeared on the other side of the console. She had a smile on her face, but it faded when she saw Sakura's condition. "Did something happen?"

Sakura sighed, putting her hands on the console. "That would be a massive understatement. Hours earlier, a mission went wrong. The Kett...they took Jaal. And Peebee and I got him back. We crash landed on a planet. And a, for lack of a better term, demon chased us on the planet but we escaped thanks to the Tempest. And we're currently en-route to Jaadeen, Havarl."

Sahuna had a look of horror and sadness on her face. "Is Jaal okay? Is everyone okay?"

Sakura nodded once. "As okay as can be. But Jaal needs medical attention, Kallo is going as fast as he can."

Sahuna spoke. "Thank you, will be there when you arrive."

With that the hologram blinked out.