A/N: Back with another chapter! Hope you guys enjoy and if you have any thoughts, please feel free to share them with me :) Also, as a small side-note, this is where the M-rating sort of starts to kick in.

Tempest, Escape Pod, 22:12 Ship Time

It's only when the Tempest crew has retired to their respective quarters that I make my way to the escape pod, a thermal blanket tucked under one arm. Poc does a jiggly little dance, a few remnant chirps echoing through the room. And almost immediately, my heart takes a nose-dive into my stomach. Exactly one hour and 34 minutes ago, my world crumbled in on itself for a second time. Our ETA to Eos was sitting on exactly three hours when SAM informed us of the status of the Nexus.

SAM had barely finished speaking when my mind put two-and-two together: the attack on Prodromos was a ploy to get us off the Nexus.

A trap.

Not long after SAM's warning, the AI had temporarily disabled his connection to me, in an effort to focus all his power on getting any remaining people off the Nexus safely. I almost wished he would return to me; being alone with my thoughts seemed so daunting.

Sara, Lexi, the few remaining colonists… Peebee. I remember how my heart had clenched and a wave of nausea had washed over my stomach. In her current state, she would be utterly helpless. I lean my back against the far wall and slide down to the floor. No, Peebee has Sara and Lexi. They wouldn't let anything happen to her, I try to remind myself in a desperate attempt at calming down. When I eventually managed to keep the overwhelming nausea at bay, I was left with blind anger. I vaguely remember striking at the galaxy map console, Kallo and Suvi silent spectators to my downward spiral into the unrelenting grip of rage. All of this shit was supposed to end with Archon. We won the battle on Meridian, we killed that son of a bitch… why do they still persist?

Think about it, Scott… for some unknown reason, they are just as invested in this rem-tech. Not for the same reasons, but invested nonetheless. With a frustrated sigh, I unroll the thermal blanket and stretch myself onto the soft material. Almost a year down the line, Andromeda still presents more questions than answers. The kett, for example. Why are they so obsessed with the remnant? And why are they unable to interface with the rem-tech? That last question had kept me awake for countless nights, unable to succumb to the sweet oblivion of sleep. Not even Peebee's warm, supple body against my own had quelled the thoughts inside my mind.

The angara have no problems interfacing with the tech. And even though SAM plays an integral part, neither do we. Whatever the reason for their incompatibilities, the explanation to their obsession must lie within that scope of reasoning. I roll onto my side and find myself staring at the numerous research papers scattered all around the escape pod floor. Unbidden, a smile stretches my lips. My eyes slip closed as I picture Peebee, bent over a newly discovered piece of rem-tech, her eyes glowing with fascination at studying the novel technology. Whatever Primus wants with the remnant, whatever she plans to do with it, becomes background noise as I slip into blissful sleep.

Nexus, Vortex/Docking Area, 09:20

Ten minutes later, we finally emerge from the service tunnels into a pitch black Vortex. Severed electrical wires hang from the roof in some places, crackling with flashes of pale blue light. Sara and Kandros switch their chest lights on. Sara pats me on my good shoulder as she moves past me, a typical Ryder-grin splitting her face.

"Peebee, you're amazing."

I respond with my own grin. "Well, duh. Why'd you think Scott still keeps me around?"

Sara cocks an eyebrow over her shoulder. "Oh, I can think of a few things."

Suddenly, I'm grateful for the complete darkness surrounding us. Two months after cementing our relationship, two months of flirtatious banter and stolen moments aboard the Tempest, which mostly involved sharing brief, but heated kisses, my body always the one pressed tightly between a wall and Scott's hard chest, his hands sliding over the skin on my lower back, down, down… slipping inside my pants and over the soft skin of my ass – whoa, focus Peebee!

Right, where was I? Even after two months of blissful exploration, he still manages to send my heart racing and my cheeks flaming. How is it possible that he still manages to get me trembling with nervous, but excited, energy whenever he steps into a room? Or, when he pins me with those soft, blue eyes, so warm and open, that I find myself lured to him, like a helpless little moth to a flame. Not to mention our more steamy, intimate moments… granted, there was only one other time after our first encounter. Chaste, fast and hard against his bedroom wall, after a rather intense kett-hunting session. And that was a while ago…

We probably should be going at it like rabbits, right? I mean, he's young… I'm young. But somehow, between my never-ending remnant studies and our kett-purging missions, we never really had the time for much else. But, that's also a good thing, right? Doesn't that make our thing, our… relationship, so much stronger? Unless I've been reading it wrong… I mean, with Kalinda, becoming sexually intimate was pretty much all we ever did. Would Scott not have the same urges?

"SAM, keep me updated on the arks and Kesh," Sara's voice breaks through my inner monologue and I find myself slamming back down to earth… or, more accurately, the Nexus.

"Of course, Sara."

Without another word, we move forward. I keep a steady thrum of my biotics alive, my body taut with the bad kind of anticipation. You know, the kind that has your stomach twisting in uncomfortable knots?

"I am reading multiple kett signatures in the docking area. Please proceed with caution," SAM's tinny voice communicates over our open comm channel.

"Thanks SAM, you're a pal." Sara throws another glance over her shoulder. "Peebee, please tell me you have another way out of here?"

"Sorry, all out of secret passageways. We could try and bypass them through cultural exchange and grab a lift ride down to the docking area?" I suggest, gasping at the sudden pain returning to my shoulder. Wow, that didn't last long, I think to myself, grimacing at the sore throbbing. Lexi is quick to notice, shooting me a worried frown.

"We need to hurry up, that epinephrine shot is starting to wear off," Lexi warns, her eyes glinting like steel. Great, like I need the annoyingly, doting doc watching my every move. Is it not enough that I woke up in the Nexus med-bay, way too confused and out of it for my liking, wearing this ridiculous medical garb? Oh, and no shoes, I remind myself, my bare feet slapping against the cold – really, really cold, I might add – floor panels.

Sara nods. "Got it, doc. We'll take the balcony," she orders and breaks into a sprint. I manage to keep up quite easily, even well after my head explodes with lancing pain, black pin-pricks blotting my vision.

Nexus, Cultural Exchange/Customs, 09:25

By the time we reach cultural exchange, thankfully kett-free, my breathing turns shallow. From the corner of my vision, I notice Lexi run her scanner over me.

"Ms. B'Sayle, I am detecting alarming drops in your vital signs," SAM cautions.

"Yeah… no kidding, SAM," I reply through gritted teeth.

"I surmise that Scott would not approve, Ms. B'Sayle."

Lexi scoffs, approaching me with a shake of her head. "What Scott doesn't know, won't hurt him. I've got you, Peebee." Before I know what's happening, Lexi has pulled my good arm over her shoulders, her other arm snaking around my waist.

Through my heavy breaths, I manage to push away from Lexi. "Stop it, I don't need your help." I try to ignore the sudden flash of hurt in Lexi's eyes, forcefully reminding myself to take deeper breaths.

When we reach the customs elevator, the control panel turns red. "Please wait," SAM warns.

Sara slams at the door. "Dammit SAM, what the hell is going on?"

"Docking bays N-03 through to N-07 are currently overrun with kett. In your current state, you are all vastly outnumbered."

"Well, that's inspiring," Sara drawls. My heart thuds madly behind my ribcage, the dots in my vision pulsing in time with each beat.

Kandros growls, his gloved digits clutching at his rifle. "What about my team, SAM?"

"Still alive."

Sara shakes her head. "SAM, we need a straight path through to docking bay N-07. There's no time for detours."

"Please wait while I attempt to correct your situation… gaining access to the docked kett ships… overriding systems… overload initiated. You have approximately five minutes and 22 seconds before complete systems failure. I have informed Kandros's team of your ETA."

The lock on the door turns blue. Kandros smirks, his small eyes glinting. "Man, am I glad you're on our side."

Sara keys in the unlock command on her omni-tool. "Come on, no time to waste."

The elevator ride down to the docking area is filled with tense silence. Kandros and Lexi check and double check their weapons. Lexi's fingers move with deft handling of her pistol. For a moment, I find myself staring at the bizarre sight. Who'd have thought the placid doc knew how to handle a gun? Shaking my head, I take a few deep breaths, calling up a field of my biotics to envelope my body in shimmering, purple light. I release the field on a shaky exhale and with another deep breath, I call up my biotics again. When I look up, I find Sara's grey-blue eyes watching me like a hawk.

"You got this, Peebee?"

I clench my jaw around the throbbing pain in my shoulder. "Fun fact: we asari are much tougher than you think."

Sara levels me with an even stare, her eyes betraying only the slightest hint of worry. "Right… so, here's the plan: there is no plan."

Kandros tilts his head. "I'm an expert at tactical plans, but even I don't understand what you just said."

"You heard SAM, we've only got five minutes max. Shooting our way out of here is no longer an option. Besides," Sara shrugs, shooting me a cocky grin. "We've got two naturally gifted biotics on our side."

"So…" Kandros starts, his turian mandibles twitching. "You want us to make a run for it?"

"Well, word on the street is, not much can penetrate a biotic shield, right Lexi?"

Lexi glances down at her pistol, her brow furrowed. Finally, she holsters the gun at her hip. "Guess I won't be needing that anymore."

Of course, the rational side in me agrees wholeheartedly with Sara; with barely any time to escape, stopping to fight the kett along the way won't exactly get us off the station alive. But, would it really hurt to take out at least a few of those assholes? Instead, I nod my head in agreement. "Right, one biotic shield coming up."

The words had barely left my mouth when the lift door whooshed open, immediate gunfire ripping through the air. Lexi takes up the lead, lifting her arms with a grunt. A crackling blue-purple shield stretches out around us, the kett gunfire ricocheting harmlessly off the biotic dome. With a deep breath, I mirror Lexi's stance and heave a massive groan. At first, my biotic shield falters, my head splitting with knee-quaking pain. I moan at the sensation, snapping my eyes shut.

"Peebee!" Lexi shouts over the din of weapons fire. I open my eyes, a strangled cry of effort leaving my lips. My shield splutters back to life, slamming into Lexi's own shield. With our combined biotics, the shielded dome grows in size and strength. Lexi throws a sharp look over her shoulder. "Now, Sara!"

With painstaking progress, we make it off docking bay N-03. Sara and Kandros provide cover fire, taking down some of the heavier kett enforcements as we pass by. Kandros is utterly deadly with his Dhan shotgun, sending kett bodies flying backwards. "Stupid bastards just don't know when to give up," Kandros mutters through a rumbling chuckle.

Sara is more calculated, deploying terrifying skill with her Phalanx pistol. By the time we reach docking bay N-05, my body is a sweaty, trembling mess. We're halfway down the causeway connecting bay's N-05 and N-06, when SAM's robotic voice breaks through my concentration.

"Arks Leusinia and Natanus have successfully undocked, the remaining Nexus colonists safely on board."

Sara nods with a smile. "That's good news, SAM. What about Kesh?"

"Superintendent Nakmor Kesh and her team safely departed the Nexus as of six minutes ago."

Docking bay N-06 proves more of a challenge when three Anointed approach us at a steady march, their heavy weapons primed and ready. Every bullet is like a painful jab at my conscious, the force of their combined fire nearly crippling. Beside me, Lexi groans, her forehead glistening with a thin sheen of sweat. I can feel my shield fading, my biotics retreating in an effort to save strength. I glance at Lexi and feel a momentary sense of awe – right now, she's doing all the legwork, while I desperately try to keep up. Kandros and Sara quickly take aim, firing a few rounds when a kett voice screeches out across the docking bay. The Anointed immediately halt in their attack, a nervous frenzy overtaking their bodies. They quickly step aside to reveal two Ascendants, orange shields already in place, their orbs floating around them like giant, angry eyes.

Kandros shoots a nervous gaze all around us, his raptor-like eyes confused. "What the hell?" he mutters and turns to face Sara. "I don't like this."

And then, as if our situation couldn't get any worse, Primus melts into existence, a haze of blue smoke following her arrival. With a growl, Primus slowly advances – a hunter cornering its prey. "You are proving very difficult to capture, little asari."

So, Lexi was right, they do want me alive, I think with disgust. Primus continues to advance, her small, beady eyes glinting with some terrible thought.

"Sara, you now have two minutes and 17 seconds remaining," SAM reminds us. Sara steps in front of me, her weapon leveled at Primus.

"Take one more step and I'll blow your fucking brains out."

Eventually, Primus comes to a slow stop, lifting a leisurely hand to swipe against our biotic shield. "Your attempts to keep this asari safe are futile, human. Before long, she will be mine," Primus taunts, sending me a toothy smirk. My skin crawls with icy tingling at Primus's words. Mine... the word floats around in my mind, like a thought that adamantly refuses to leave. And without warning, Primus signals the Ascendants behind her, disappearing into thin air seconds later. The Ascendants' Orbs vibrate and build up with crackling energy.

In front of me, Sara's posture becomes taut. "Oh, shit!" she mutters. And then, like a deer caught in the headlights, we watch in helpless fright as two, shuddering balls of crackling energy fly towards us. When the first one slams into our biotic shield, I drop to one knee, a whimper ripped from my throat. And finally, my body completely slumps forward when the second one hits, sending even Lexi's shield spluttering out.

"Spare the asari! Kill the rest of them!" the Ascendant roars.

With split-second reflexes, Sara and Kandros dive for cover behind a stack of crates. Lexi grabs at my shirt sleeve, dragging me into cover behind an upturned floor panel. Her critical gaze sweeps over me, her grey eyes sparkling with concern and… anger? My mouth starts to form around a sarcastic comment when the pain in my head sends my vision swimming. I lean my head back when a heavy pounding rushes through my aural cavities, my chest feeling impossibly tight. Lexi shakily runs her scanner over me, shaking her head at what she already knows.

"Dr. T'Perro, I am detecting unnaturally high levels of hypertension. If not treated, heart failure is imminent."

Lexi grabs hold of my shoulders, her eyes swimming with tears. "I know… I know," she murmurs. I always wondered what it would feel like dying. Would I go gently, like a soft, summer breeze? Or would it be violent, a raging storm against the battered shutters that is my body? When I find Lexi's gaze, a resolute anger settling over her eyes, I realise that I'd have to wait much, much longer to find out. "No. Not here, not like this."

A voice crackles over the comms. "This is the cavalry, inbound to your location."

"Marcus, you taunting bastard! Expect a hot landing," Kandros replies.

Marcus chuckles over the comms. "Several steps ahead of you there, Kandros. ETA in one minute."

"Well, it's about damn time!" Sara shouts over the incessant gunfire. Just then, Sara mutters a slew of curses. "Eyes wide, everyone! Those goddam Ascendants just vanished."

Barely a few seconds later, the two Ascendants reappear to flank Lexi and myself. The asari doctor's eyes widen in fear. Blue-purple tendrils of her biotics swirl around Lexi's body as she rises to her feet, her jaw clenching and unclenching. With a loud grunt, Lexi slams her arms outward, angry biotic lances colliding with the Ascendants. Unable to form their shields in time, their bodies spiral through the air like limp rag dolls. Again, even over the agonizing pain in my head and shoulder, I stare at Lexi, my eyes wide and my mouth gaping open in surprise. I never thought she had it in her. Wait until Scott hears about this, I think.

"That was so cool," I tell her softly, clutching at my sore shoulder. Lexi, her chest heaving, stares down at me with a surprised frown.

Not a moment later, an Initiative shuttle hums overhead, descending on our position. The side panel swishes open to reveal a bald Nexus security officer, his sea-blue eyes glinting with mirth. "All aboard!" Beside him, a scowling asari, her hand clutching at the shuttle. A shimmer of biotic energy wraps around the small ship. Marcus rushes forward, assault rifle exploding with gunfire. "Let's go, let's go!" he shouts, tapping Kandros on his shoulder. Slowly, without breaking their aim, Sara and Kandros make for the shuttle. Lexi helps me up, my arm swinging around her shoulders. I ignore the burst of pain lancing up my own shoulder and force my legs to work harder. Inside, Lexi gently deposits me on a row of benches. My eyes stray just over her shoulder, finding two sets of glaring asari eyes. In the cockpit, a nervous salarian throws a few glances over his shoulder. Marcus backs up into the shuttle, never ceasing his fire. "Alright, get us out of here, Hinok!" he throws over his shoulder.

As the shuttle takes off with a violent push, a series of explosions in our wake, I take a deep breath and lean my head back against the shuttle hull. Well, this is going to be a fun ride...