Chapter 2: Old Foes
Andromeda, Heleus Cluster, Kadara Port
Over the last five months, Kadara Port has experienced a massive expansion. Apart from the constant upgrades to medical facilities and general living quarters, the Port has seen people come-and-go on an hourly basis. Many from the Nexus have even called Kadara Port their home. Stepping onto the Port bridge, Jaal and Peebee following close behind, I notice a flurry of movement. A definite improvement since the last time, I think with a smile.
Even Sloane Kelly, the once-infamous exile leader, has grown more receptive of the influx of "Nexus Blood" as they put it. At a small price, of course. For everything you've done for Andromeda… and for saving my life. But who the fuck is counting, anyway? Were Sloane's very articulate words once upon a time. So, as expected, our arrival to Kadara Port was accepted with open arms.
My omni-tool chimes. With a frown, I swipe a hand over the orange screen.
"I still think this is a bad idea," says Cora with obvious distaste. My frown grows deeper.
"I thought we had an agreement, Cora."
"We did. But, I'm starting to re-think that."
I share a glance with Peebee and Jaal. "Look… I just thought you might want a break, with your recent mood-and-all."
"Don't you dare blame my mood for this, Ryder. I've never let my emotions control my actions," Cora growls.
Peebee pokes me in the side, her head gesturing to the side. Through the gathered crowd, Sloane Kelly approaches, a gun resting casually over one shoulder. Just in time, I think with a sigh.
"We'll talk about this when I get back. Duty calls." I swipe a hand over my omni-tool, cutting Cora off mid-rant. Sloane comes to a slow stop, a small smile spreading over her face.
"Well, well… if it isn't the Pathfinder," she slurs. I reach out to grasp her hand in a friendly handshake.
"Kadara's looking a lot better," I say.
Sloane scoffs, her smile turning into a grin. "No thanks to you. But… let's not get sappy. What brings you here?"
I send Peebee a glance. She clears her throat, steps forward. "For the last 12 hours, I've been receiving a strange signal," Peebee starts. "We've come to investigate." Sloane nods, a thoughtful expression passing over her scarred face.
"We've been receiving the same signal," Sloane adds.
"We're here to investigate, but... we might need some help" I take over for Peebee.
"You're expecting trouble, aren't you?"
I scoff and fold my arms. "I'm always expecting trouble."
Sloane levels me with a frown, her eyes jumping between the three of us. "Well... then it's a good thing I already have men stationed out there. Like you, I was also expecting some company."
Peebee and I trade a surprised glance. This time, Sloane is the one to scoff. "You didn't think you'd be the only ones after it, did you?"
"Well, no. It's just…" Peebee starts, an eyebrow raised. Crossing her arms with a smile, Peebee shakes her head. "You were never too interested in the remnant before, that's all."
Sloane becomes serious. "Look… with something as strange as that, so close to Kadara Port, I'd like to have some level of control over it. Besides, we all know who else is interested in that technology."
"Then you understand how important this is? We need to get there before they do," says Peebee, her easy demeanour gone.
"Would you be willing to give us access to the site?" I ask.
Sloane hesitates. Jaw clenched, eyes hard, she nods.
"That's it? No bargaining, no threatening?" I raise my eyebrows, surprised.
Sloane turns to leave. She throws a glance over her shoulder, eyes gleaming. "Rather me, than Reyes, right? Consider this a debt paid in full."
"Duly noted!" I call after her. Her comment sends my thoughts back to Reyes Vidal, a very charming criminal. The memory of his betrayal still cuts quite deep. That cunning bastard fooled us all, I think with contempt. "Come on, let's make our way down."
"Reyes Vidal… I remember him. Rather good looking, as you humans put it," says Jaal, his blue eyes misting over with memories. Peebee throws the angaran a scowl.
"Good looking? Sure… Trustworthy? Not a chance."
"Peebee's right. I'd rather trust someone with all their cards out on the table," I explain. Jaal tilts his head, eyes narrowed in thought.
"Even though Sloane Kelly was the worst of the exiles?"
"Of course. That way, you have less chance of someone playing you under the table."
"Another human idiom?" I hear Jaal mutter. Peebee chuckles, a soothing sound to my ears.
"You'll catch up eventually," Peebee replies.
We step into the lift and take a few moments to check our gear. My chest feels tight with anticipation – finding the source of this mysterious signal could change the future for everyone. However, the worry of showing up with unwanted company eats away at me. Above everything else – even the remnant – my crew means everything to me. My father used to speak about losing friends too often for me to shrug these thoughts off. The First Contact war had claimed too many of his own. I saw the effect it had on him; sleepless nights, guilty concisions, paranoia. He hid it well, but when he thought no one else was looking, I was.
I don't want that. I've never wanted that.
The lift stops with a shudder. With a deep breath, I lead Jaal and Peebee away from the safety of Kadara Port.
Andromeda, Heleus Cluster, Kadara, Remnant Site
The shuttle rises into the air. I watch it leave and swipe at my omni-tool. Peebee, Jaal and five of Kelly's men gather close by.
"Ryder to Tempest. Keep a lock on our position and standby."
Kallo's thin voice sounds over the comms. "Noted, Pathfinder. Tempest standing by."
I turn around to face the cave entrance before us. A pale blue glow reaches out to us through the darkness, the light almost beckoning. Peebee types at her own omni-tool, eyes scanning through the readings. She lifts her gaze, jade-green eyes finding mine. "We're so close."
I nod once. "Alright, let's do this. And let's do it fast."
And, of course, the Universe always has to throw a spanner in the works…
Just then, a low drone bounces off the rocky hills surrounding us. I stop, my head turning towards the sound. There, in the distance, a kett dreadnought looms over the spiky ridges of a lone mountain. Behind me, Jaal growls.
"Dammit!" I hiss.
"These guys just never give up," says Peebee. "Now what?"
I send a hurried glance toward the approaching kett. I turn to stare at Peebee, my jaw clenching. You know that thing called a gut instinct? Well… it was blearing all kinds of warning bells at me. Always trust your gut, son, my father used to say. Out there, on the battlefield, it's the best weapon any soldier could have.
I should have listened to my gut…
"You and Jaal go! We'll hold the kett off for as long as we can."
Peebee's brow furrows. "Scott…"
"I'm giving you guys ten minutes. Go!"
Peebee takes a breath. Her gaze hardens. "Be careful," she whispers. I watch as the darkness of the cave consumes them.
Andromeda, Heleus Cluster, Kadara, Cave
Jaal and I come to a staggering halt. Remnant beams spike from the cave walls, alive with a glowing hum. In the centre, raised about a metre above the cave ground, is a dais. I stare at the image before me, the academic within me hungry for study. All the things we could learn…
No time, I remind myself.
We move further into the cave, the distant sound of gunfire barely reaching us. Something moves. I stop with a gasp.
"By the stars…" Jaal whispers.
A humanoid figure pulls itself upright, it's body a mass of metal and technology. I step forward and ready my scanner.
"Peebee! Be careful," Jaal warns.
The humanoid lifts its head, a pair of blue, glowing holes meeting my gaze. I come to a slow stop, my arm tentatively reaching out. "What are you?" I whisper to myself. The jardaan? No… it looks too mechanical. Then again, there's no proof that the jardaan isn't a race of sentient machines. Maybe it's another kind of remnant bot? The design does look strikingly familiar. I run my scanner over the remnant. "SAM, are you getting this?"
SAM's voice crackles to life over the comms. "Yes, Ms B'Sayle. I will need time to further analyse the information."
"Yeah, I hear you," I agree.
The humanoid stands, its legs shaky. It releases a slur of unintelligible words, pauses and takes a trembling step forward. There's no warning, none at all. It lashes out, fingers like needles. I cry in pain as the needles pierce through the skin on my forehead. I feel the sharp fingers drive into my skull and then…
A searing pain, like a flash of licking flames, rushes my nerve-endings. And with it, comes the onslaught of images.
Sprawling cities, remnant structures, the creation of the first remnant bots, a planet, a blurred face, another planet, a star.
It all happens too fast, too much. I grab hold of the hand submerged in my head. I shout, for Jaal, for release, I'm not sure.
Numbers flash into existence, followed by a set of glyphs. More faces, garbled speech.
I drop to my knees and pull desperately at the hand in my head. The pain never ends. My head threatens to split open with each flash of information. A high-pitched screech assaults my aural cavities and my limbs go weak.
I'm about to pray for reprieve when a silent boom of a powerful surge echoes throughout the cave. The noise and images come to a sudden halt. I feel myself fly through the air. My head slams into something hard. My vision fades. Searing pain lances through my shoulder. A blurred face hovers above me, its mouth forming frantic words.
"… ee! Peebee, can you hear me?" Jaal shouts.
Slowly, my vision slams into clarity. I shoot up, my breaths coming in heavy pants. A wave of nausea washes over me. Jaal pulls me to my feet. I stumble, finding purchase against his broad chest.
"Peebee, can you walk?" the angaran asks, his voice heavy with concern. I feel my chest tighten. My head burns, my vision swims. Against all my willpower, I whimper.
Somewhere, the sound of dry laughter bounces off the cave walls.
I lift my gaze. The swimming image of a kett emerges from the shadows, wearing armour the colour of blood.
"How interesting," it – she – observes, small eyes gleaming in the blue glow of the remnant structures.
Jaal pulls me in close. "You," he seethes. What? Who is it?
"Release the asari, angaran."
"Or what?"
My vision flashes white and for a few painful seconds, everything disappears.
I can't see… I can't see!
Planets… locations… remnant bots… faces… cities… I groan and clutch at my head. The information is much slower this time. Is it finally coming to an end? My addled mind tries to keep up. No, Peebee, the information must be working it's way-
A great force rushes past me. And then I clutch at empty air. Jaal's gone, I realise with horror. More flashes, more pain. I cry out, stumble backwards. A bone-like hand grabs at my throat. Without much effort, the kett lifts me into the air.
"You will give me your mind, asari."
My body trembles. My head aches. I try to lift my hands, but… I feel so weak… it would be so easy, Peebee…
The vice-like grip of fear clutches at my heart. Just give up, you know you don't stand a chance…
Scott's voice sounds over my comms. "Peebee? Jaal? What's going on in there? Somebody answer me!"
Scott… Scott!
Through the persistent throbbing in my head, I call up the last reserves of my energy. I dig deep for that comforting, ever-present warmth. Groaning, I summon the familiar flow of biotics to the surface. With a great explosion, blue energy blasts outward.
The kett slams into the remnant dais with a surprised shout.
Rapid gunfire sounds behind me. I feel myself lifted into strong arms. "Hold on, Peebee!" Jaal shouts, the sound just slightly desperate. Do I look that bad? Jaal's face fades in-and-out of focus. The throbbing in my head grows to unbearable heights. What did that thing do to me? Wait… is this how I die?
My jumbled thoughts float to Scott. I try to focus on the memory of his warm, blue eyes. Or the way he says my name and how his kisses taste.
Cities… faces… locations…
Kadara sunlight blinds me. My eyes flutter, the image of Jaal's face becoming a blur. I feel my thoughts slip away from me, the sound of gunfire and voices too muffled to make sense of.
No, fight it, Peebee… fight it… fight…
A/N: Alright, that's it for chapter 2. I've already started with chapter 3, so you guys can expect that pretty soon! So... I dunno, what do you guys think? Let me know, I always appreciate constructive criticism :)