Chapter 2: The Archon's flagship

It was decided. They would split up. Of course, Peebee was right. Splitting up is not the best idea ever, but it was the only way to get to both groups. Ryder needed to try at least.

Luckily the way leading to Raeka she didn't find any trouble, but she knew it was coming. She saw Raeka standing in front of a door. She looked surprised to see Ryder.

"Pathfinder, you came!" She exclaimed.

"Raeka…I couldn't just leave you here."

The other Pathfinder searched the rest of the room with her eyes. Seeing no sign of Ryder's squad. "You came alone?" She asked in disbelief.

"Yeah, my squad is getting the Krogan scouts."

"Ryder…I…," she stuttered.

"The Salarians need their Pathfinder."

Raeka wasn't sure what to say, but after a moment of not saying anything, she spoke again. "Thank you. My people are at the end of the tunnel. It's kett the whole way."

"Then we push ahead and don't stop for anything. Let's go."

They opened the door, and Ryder had to find cover. Shooting started directly after they opened the door.

"We have to push through", Reaka said as she and Ryder fought the kett.

"I'm trying", Ryder replied. Reloading her assault rifle after she killed a kett.

"It's that or die!" Reaka shouted back.

Drack was right. From the looks of how Reaka fought through the kett, she was half-krogan.

She used Pull on one Chosen, "Tempest this is Ryder! Do you copy?" She asked.

"I hear you Ryder," she heard Kallo's voice.

"We have the map," Ryder started, "But with the Salarian Pathfinder's help I'm rescuing some prisoners." She stopped as she reloaded her assault rifle, "Drack and Peebee are rescuing some Krogan scouts."

"Those kett gun's won't stay offline forever," Kallo said. Ryder was sure she heard the disapproval in Kallo's voice. But that didn't matter right now.

"I know! I know! Just tell me when that changes," she used Pull on another kett, "And keep Drack and Peebee up to date!" She shouted over the blazing weapons.

"Will do," he confirmed, "Kallo out."

With just being her and Reaka made things a lot harder. Ryder knew it would be harder. She knew they would have to give everything they've got. Deep down she knew that there was a big chance she might not make it out of here.

If she didn't make it out of here, it would be okay. Cora would make the perfect Pathfinder. After all, Cora was trained for this, she wasn't. She didn't want this. Up to this day, she still didn't know why her dad chose her. But if she didn't make it Scott will have no family left. He will wake up to know that she lied to him about Dad. To know his own sister betrayed him. But the important part is he'll be okay. And that right there is what mattered.

"We're fresh meat. They love to cut us open," Raeka said. Her words sent a shiver down Ryder's spine.

All of a sudden she saw flashes of those recordings they found after they escaped the trap. Ryder decided to worry later about that injection. Anyway, if she doesn't make it out of here it wouldn't matter, so why freak out over something that won't be important in an hour's time. She remembered those screams as Salarians was tortured. Their screams were burned into her mind. She'll never forget them.

The Archon had records on all of them. Humans, Asari, Turians, you name it. They were way over at their heads with this. They had no idea what they were getting themselves into.

Ryder switched her assault rifle for her pistol and killed a wraith with it. Seeing a puddle of brown-green blood flowing from under it.

"Tight quarters. Watch where you shoot," Raeka warned as Ryder made her way to another doorway where more kett were.

"Pathfinder," Kallo said, "That kett ship is trying to reset the power."

This didn't look good for her and Raeka.

"They'll have the guns up in no time," Kallo continued.

"How are Drack and Peebee doing?" She asked in the hope that they're already on the Tempest.

"They're not here yet," Kallo confirmed her fears.

"Copy that," Ryder said.

"Not much further," Raeka said as she shot the last kett, and they continued on to the next door.

At the next door, there were more kett. It felt that there was no end to them.

Ryder was taking cover but had to move before an Ascedant's energy beam hit her. It missed her by mere inches. Her heart beating rapidly. No, it was pounding. Raeka moved swiftly ducking when she had to duck, and shooting where she needs to shoot.

Ryder shot a Chosen with her pistol and used Lance on another kett.

"I'm sorry. Ryder did what now?" Cora asked. Her eyes glaring into Kallo's eyes. Ryder couldn't be that irresponsible.

Cora was on the bridge. Kallo gave her the news that Ryder and her team had split up. She didn't agree with Ryder. This way none of the two groups might make it out. Ryder was reckless. This was reckless. It wasn't the first time Ryder was reckless, and it surely wouldn't be the last time.

Cora sighed and rubbed her temple. Why did she go and do that?

Both Suvi and Kallo looked like children who did something wrong.

Kallo made a movement to speak, but Cora stopped him with her one hand. "How long till those guns come online?" She asked.

"We can't be sure. But they don't have long," Suvi said.

"Ryder better make it out of there, otherwise I'm going to kill her!" She said more to herself than to Kallo and Suvi.

Cora and Ryder had a rocky relationship, not that Cora didn't respect Ryder. She did. In truth, she didn't think she would get as along with Ryder as she did, and she was glad that she and Ryder have gotten to know each other better. But when Alec Ryder chose his own daughter as Pathfinder, it did a lot more than sting for Cora. It felt like someone ripped her heart out of her chest and then stomped on it. It was strange for her. It was a feeling she never experienced before.

But as soon as she felt that, she felt a wave of guilt coming over her. How dare she feel that when a person had just died. What was wrong with her? Why did she feel like that? Being Pathfinder was just a job. Why did it hurt her so much?

Alec meant a lot more to Cora than she would ever admit to anyone. He was her mentor. She learned a lot from him. She also knew that Alec had regrets. He regretted not having a better relationship with the twins.

Cora just hoped that Ryder knew what she was doing.

"Alright keep me updated," Cora said and before she turned around she saw a glimpse of Kallo and Suvi's reaction. Clearly, they expected her to react differently. She headed to the door and it slid open and close again.

"Pathfinder the guns are about to come online."

She used Pull on a Chosen that almost shot Raeka. "Are Drack and Peebee there?"

"Not yet."

She looked around seeing Raeka having her hands full, she almost didn't have enough time to reload her weapon.

"SAM, there is a possibility that we won't get out of here," she didn't know why she said that. SAM knew it.

"That is why I advised against the decision you made."

"Where are Drack and Peebee?" She asked, ignoring his comment.

"They are almost nearing the Krogan scouts."

She shot another kett with her pistol, "That's good. They can get out of here."

Raeka finished of a wraith, "We need to get going."

An idea came up in Ryder's mind. Maybe there was a way that one of them could get to the Salarian captives while the other one is dealing with the kett. It's risky. But more importantly, it's possible. "Raeka! Go get your people. I'll cover you!" She shouted.

Raeka hesitated unsure if she should leave Ryder.

"I can handle it Raeka!" She shouted once again. She wasn't sure if that was a lie or if it was her optimism. But the truth was it didn't matter. She just needed to convince Reaka, she will convince herself later.

Raeka made herself ready to make her way forward but then turned around again.

"The guns are about to go online. If we aren't…," she hesitated. Suddenly she felt a wave of guilt coming over her, but then she shook her head as if she was attempting to rid herself of the guilt. "If we're not on my ship by the time those guns come online they'll leave."

Raeka nodded her head firmly as if she got the picture. As if she knew what Ryder had meant by that. As if she knew Ryder betrayed her. Then she took off.

"I'll cover you!" Ryder threw an Omni-grenade at three kett who was standing nearby.

Raeka made a run for it. Moving as fast as she could. Ryder tried her best to cover Reaka, making turns with her biotics and pistol, until Raeka was out of eyesight.

"Can you run?" Peebee asked concern was heard in her voice. She looked up and down at the Krogan before them, attempting to study them. Making sure they had no visible injuries.

"Miss B'Sayle, the kett are close to restoring the ship's power," SAM's voice was heard.

Peebee and Drack exchanged looks. The old man must've thought about the same thing as she was. Or rather the same person. Ryder.

Peebee couldn't understand how Drack could have agreed with Ryder. Are they really just going to leave Ryder back here? She wasn't someone who…what was that saying…grew roots. But Ryder has grown on her somehow. How and why she couldn't explain. Peebee was never someone who could stay in one place for a long time. But being on the Tempest was different somehow.

She knew that when the time comes that she decides to leave, it will be hard for her. She'll miss the old man, she'll even miss Cora. But the person she'll miss the most is Ryder. She didn't expect that the human Pathfinder would be someone she would consider calling a friend.

Why did I let these people grow on me?

"How's Ryder doing?" Drack asked with a deep dark voice.

"The Pathfinder is currently fighting off kett. She told Pathfinder Reaka to get the Salarian captives."

"So Ryder is fighting them alone?" Peebee asked, she looked towards the Krogans and then back at Drack. She was pretty sure she had the same expression that could be read on Drack's face. They both worried about their human Pathfinder.

"It was the only way she saw fit to get the Salarians out of there," SAM said. There was no hint of worry heard in his voice.

"And if the kid gets stuck with the kett the Salarians will still make it out," Drack said, wisdom was heard in his voice. He understood why Ryder made that decision.

SAM didn't reply. It wasn't necessary for him to say anything.

"Tempest," Drack said, "We're going topside. Track for extraction." He gave the krogans a signal to follow them.

Just when Ryder wanted to reload and shoot another kett, she realized she was out of ammo. She looked around for an ammo cache hoping that there was one.

No. No. No. She already scanned the room twice with her green eyes and was just about to give up when she saw one.

She made a run for the ammo cache, luckily her shields weren't too badly damaged, or at least that's what she thought at that time and that might just be the thing that saves her life. As she moved she heard gunfire all around her. Hoping to use her jump jet quick enough or ducking to avoid being shot at. Just as she arrived at the ammo cache she came across a Wraith. She got her Krogan hammer out quick enough and smashed the wraith with it as many times as she could. Until the wraith didn't move any longer.

Filling her ammo as quickly as she could possibly muster and lucky for her, her dad was an N7, another factor that can save her life on this day and at this moment. Their dad trained her and Scott to reload their weapons quickly. She was the fastest one in her class in the Alliance. Never in her life was she as thankful for that as at this precise moment. But, the truth was she was alone. Nobody covered her six. Moments ago she had one person who could cover her six, but she sent Reaka away. And because of that she almost missed a kett, luckily rolling over to her right fast enough. Right into an orange energy beam that was sent her way.

And that was the last thing she remembered before darkness swallowed her.

They were nearing the Tempest. Guns were blazing between them and the kett. Peebee threw a Shockwave at one of them.

She saw Cora on the Tempest ramp with her weapon shooting at the kett that was behind them. But Cora wasn't alone, Liam and Vetra were with her.

"Now! We've got to go!" Kallo's voice was heard through the comm when she and Drack finally arrived at the Tempest ramp. He sounded slightly nervous.

"No! We're not leaving Ryder here! This was not for nothing!" Peebee shouted towards Drack and Cora. They were the only two in her eyesight. While Liam and Vetra kept the kett busy. She hoped they would listen to her.

Cora had a look of shame in her eyes, "I don't like it either, but if we want to get out of here-"

"The Pathfinder has been injured and is in need of medical attention," SAM interrupted. "The Salarian Pathfinder is on her way to her as we speak, but Ryder is currently unconscious."

The three only exchanged looks. No one said a word. Each one of them had their own look of despair on their faces.

"I've already contacted Dr. T'Perro," SAM continued.

"See? The Salarian Pathfinder almost has Ryder. They'll be here," Peebee said, trying to find the silver lining from this situation.

"Peebee," Cora's voice was soft. Almost caring, as if she was talking to a child, "That's not what SAM said."

"We're so close Cora. We can keep fighting the kett till they get here."

"Peebee those guns…," Cora's voice trailed off. "Ryder knew there was a chance she might not get out of here. The choices we make have consequences."

Drack shot a kett with his shotgun. "She's right," agreeing with Cora.

"Please…", Peebee started to beg, pronouncing the word slowly.

What was wrong with her? Begging? Peebee didn't beg for anything or anyone. The only person she cared about was herself.

Cora looked as if she was searching for something in Peebee's eyes. Something that wasn't there, "Okay…," she finally said, "We'll wait for her." She glanced over her shoulder to Drack and then to where Vetra and Liam were standing. "Be ready," she ordered, "There will be more kett."

Ryder heard gunfire from a distance. She wasn't sure who shot who, but there was some gunfire involved.

Where am I? She wondered. A strong shot of pain in her stomach is all it took to make her remember. The orange globe has hit her. This happened before when they rescued the Moshae. But back then her shields took most of the damage, which meant that her shields were a lot more damaged than she thought. She groaned, it felt like her stomach was on fire, and at the same time that something was eating her stomach from the inside out. Every little movement hurt, even breathing. Then her back started to ache as well. It felt like her back had hit a very hard object.

She didn't dare to look, instead, she moved her one hand to her stomach. Something wasn't right. It didn't feel right. She moved her hand away from her stomach, seeing red stained on her hand. Blood. Her blood? Medi-gel. She needed to place medi-gel on her wound. But the slightest movement hurt her so badly.

"Ryder!" She heard someone exclaimed. Someone familiar. Maybe Reaka? No Reaka wasn't here.

The person came into eyesight of Ryder. It was Raeka! But she had a look of horror in her eyes. This must be bad.

Raeka shot at something. At what Ryder wasn't sure. Probably at a kett. And then she kneeled next to where Ryder was lying on the floor.

"Pathfinder, you are in need of medical assistance," SAM's voice only made Ryder groan again.

"SAM…I…" Why was it so hard to speak? Never mind that. Why did it hurt so much to breathe? This wasn't normal.

"Ryder try not to move", Reaka said as she inserted some medi-gel to her wound.

Her answer was only a frown that Raeka couldn't possibly see. Ryder couldn't possibly move even if she tried.

When she was done she looked at Ryder again. Raeka had the same horror in her eyes. This meant that things were 10 times worse than Ryder initially thought. That's when Ryder realized she didn't hear any gunfire. Was the kett dead? Another Salarian came to her side.

"Take her left arm. I'll take her right arm," Raeka said to the Salarian. She spoke almost as if Ryder was unconscious. Or rather as if Ryder wasn't a person at all. As if she was an object that needed to be moved.

"No…," Ryder said weakly. "Don't…," she tried. Then she took another breath and with that another wave of unbearable pain came over her, "You have to leave me…I…can't..." She took another breath, "Please…just leave me…", Ryder almost begged. Desperation was heard in her voice.

"We're not going to leave you," Raeka said. "If it wasn't for you, we all would be facing exaltation somewhere in the near future." She continued, "Now we all have the chance to get away from here. Don't waste this chance, Ryder." Raeka's voice was calm, "But we need to get going."

Ryder nodded her head, but even that was an effort.

She had no idea how the two Salarians helped her on her feet. Her head was hanging. Losing consciousness and then coming to it again. Her eyes were on her feet. She was almost sure she saw little blood dripples on the floor. She was still bleeding.

Suddenly she started to see a type of ladder in front of her, and then darkness overwhelmed her again. How much blood did she lose?

Another mystery that Ryder would never be able to solve is how the two Salarians got her up to the ladder. But suddenly she saw air and some shooting. And then blackness again.

Then she heard a loud bang. A big gun. A really big gun. Did the kett's gun come back online? No that's not possible. And even if it was, she told Peebee and Drack to leave if that happens. Peebee might have ignored her order. But Drack? He understood the necessity of her decision. He wouldn't…would he?

She looked ahead of her once again, seeing the Tempest. Seeing Drack and Peebee shooting with their weapons. And others. But everything was blurry, she couldn't be sure. What were they shooting at? Was there more kett?

"Go! Go! Go!" Someone shouted. They were near the Tempest ramp now. Getting onto the ramp was a challenge on its own, but they succeeded. They left Ryder standing next to a wall. All guns blazing.

The wall is my friend. Ryder thought. Without it, she knew she was going to lose consciousness. She saw a blue figure approaching her. Maybe Lexi?

Lexi looked at her. Then Ryder realized she didn't hear anything. Lexi's lips moved but no words came out. She felt a wave of heat coming over her head, mixed with a kind of dizziness that she couldn't possibly explain. The corners of her sight became dark. Her vision was blurry. Even more, than it was a moment ago.

She tried. She really did. She tried to stay awake. But she couldn't. It was just too much. She felt her body fell on its own without her permission, her head fell to something hard. And that was the last thing she remembered.