The human Pathfinder gradually walked down a ramp way leading into an enclosed hangar bay. The scale size of the fighter ship bay appeared to encompass over half the size of the Kett flagship. Kett fighter ships were docked at their boarding stations lining up and down both interior walls. Scott gaped his astonishment, coming to a standstill and slowly turned his head back and forth, "Wow... Take a look at this! I've never seen this part of a Kett flagship before!"
Tava B'shond came up beside the human man, also displaying a bewildered look, "This is massive, Scott... this is unbelievable to think the Kett have built this incredible size of a ship just to unleash war upon my people."
"Yeah," Scott agreed, "I can imagine better things to do with my time if I were a Kett... which I'm very glad that I'm not. The possibilities are endless! I'd definitely put in for an indoor pool instead. Maybe some artificial waves to go surfing. I'd kill for a surfboard right about now."
"Surfing? What is a surfboard?" Tava looked up at the Pathfinder with curiosity.
Scott lightly chuckled, cracking a smirk, "Maybe someday when things get cooled down I'll have to show you. I'm not really good at explaining it... it's just something that you have to move with, go with the flow... if you get what I mean."
Tava brightly smiled, "I'd like to see this surfing in motion. Someday perhaps."
Ryder and Tava turned their attention forward by the sound of Pravalo's voice abruptly booming across the hangar bay, "You damn aliens will pay for killing our people and taking my sister away from me!"
Tava shouted in surprise, "PRAVALO?! Wh-what's going on?"
"Tava?! Tava, you're alive?! I thought the aliens took you away and..." Pravalo's voice displayed fearful sorrow.
"I'm alright, Pravalo! Where are you?" The sister Angaran slowly turned looking back and forth over the Kett fighter ships and hurried her pace to walk to the center of the bay in the attempt to find the locate her sibling. Scott also hastened his pace, following behind Tava with the gun's point aiming toward the very high ceiling, and making quick glimpses around.
"Tava! Run! Get away from the aliens while you can!" Pravalo's voice cried out as if in a panicked state.
"What are you talking about, Pravalo?" Tava loudly asked before turning onto Scott. She briefly glanced toward the dark silver figure making his approach with the other rescued Angara following behind Sky. The female Angaran expressed to the human a worried look, "I don't understand. What is wrong with Pravalo?"
"Your brother appears to have the similar condition that my people call Shell Shock... which basically means that his mental condition is unstable due to the intensity of prolonged exposure caused from the Kett's torture methods and may have triggered his old Roekar habits."
Tava shook her head in disagreement, "That's impossible. I'm his sister, maybe there's something that I can do. He will listen to me!"
The Initiative Pathfinder gradually shook his head, "He's beyond reasoning now, Tava."
Sky gently brushed between the human and the white-colored Angara coming out to stand in front of them and loudly proclaimed, "I have your sister's life hanging in the balance, Pravalo! These people, your people, will also suffer if you do not comply to my demands!"
"Sky? What are you doin-" Ryder started to ask but Sky quickly answered in a whisper, "Play along." Scott holstered the pistol weapon and made a brief nod to Tava bidding the Angaran woman to follow lead.
Sky continued to exclaim in demand sound, "Pravalo, if you want your sister's life to be spared you must first show yourself to me! The longer you keep me waiting one after the other I will gut open these creatures' heads with a knife!"
Scott added, "Yeah, or else-"
"Do not intervene, human." Sky's hallow-sounding voice sneered bitterly.
"Hey, I thought we were on the same side! We're the aliens to him." Scott objected.
Sky lowered his voice momentarily, "We appear differently to Pravalo, hence, we are not on the same side. You can imitate as a hostage."
"... I don't think I'd make a very good one. I've tried... and died." The human man lowered his voice to a disgruntled mutter.
Pravalo proclaimed angrily, "You're in no position to negotiate, alien! I have seized control over this fighter ship and will destroy you!"
The sound of a revving engine spurred to life from one of the Kett's fighter ships with brief sprays of flames jettisoning from the lines of exhausts on both sides of the fighter ship.
Tava called over her shoulder, "He's in that one! Quickly!" She raced toward the softly roaring Kett ship.
"Hurry, everyone!" Scott had briefly half-turned giving a shout toward the group of Angaran and faced forward rushing after Tava. Both the Pathfinder and Sky were on Tava's heels with the many Angara running as swiftly as they could muster. The silver armored alien slowed his pace, hastily whirling around and bent down to one knee with his arms fully outstretched, "Children, to me. I will carry you!" He turned his helmet and called out, "Pathfinder!" The sound of Sky's voice distracted Scott's attention, deterring the human man to stop, spin around, and hurried back to the group. The dark blue Angaran offered out a young girl and pleaded to the human, "Please take her! I can't.. I can't make it."
"We're not leaving anyone behind! Come on!" Scott beckoned as he scooped the young Angaran child into his arms and swiftly whirled around. He watched the figure of Tava dashing across the boarding ramp, located at ground level, leading to an entry point from the bottom of the fighter ship. Ryder turned his head to glimpse upon the figure of Sky briskly walking ahead while carrying the Angaran children. Some were wrapped in his arms, clinging onto his torso, and others taking firm hold upon his backside allowing Sky's unparalleled strength to carry a large number of young Angara with him to the base of the Kett fighter ship.
The dark blue Angaran worriedly asked as he ran with Ryder, "What has happened to the one called Pravalo? Why does he act differently?"
Scott quickly shook his head, "His sister said something about Pravalo being on the brink.. I think the Kett pushed him to that edge and caused him to snap."
The group raced across the inclined boarding ramp coming to the entry access point of the fighter ship. The Angaran children were gently let down from Sky's strong hold and Ryder gently laying the young Angaran child into her father's arms. The Angara refugees were ushered in first to make the climb toward the upper deck within the Kett ship. Sky and Scott were lastly to come into the base of the ship, the human man sliding the door shut and locking down the hatch. Both humanoid figures exchanged looks to each other, the Pathfinder heavily panting while the silver man seemed unaffected by the breathing requirement.
Tava's voice carried down from the upper level, "Pravalo! We're all safe! You don't have to do this! Please stop! It's me, Tava! I'm your sister!"
Pathfinder Ryder quickly made the climb coming up into the large starboard room. He set both boots down upon solid metal flooring and slowly turned his head, spying the group of Angara huddled closely together in the far corner of the wide-sized room and Tava standing with her backside to the human's line of sight whom blocked the view of her brother standing on the other side of the female Angara.
The dark green Angaran swiftly adverted his attention by overlooking Tava's shoulder onto the figure of the human Pathfinder and the dark silver armor. Pravalo quickly grabbed his sister's arm, pulling her out of the way and raised the barrel of a light-weight Kett weapon and swiftly waved the gun's point between Scott and Sky.
Tava was forcefully pushed backwards, fumbling in her stumble to regain her balance, she wildly flailed before her hands came down upon a cold surface directly behind her and gripped down onto whatever her fingers were able to take hold of. She briefly leaned her backside, propping herself into a standing posture and cried out to her sibling, "Pravalo! Brother, what are you doing?! These two are not our enemies! This is Scott Ryder and Sky! They helped us escape, remember?"
"Shush, Tava! The aliens took you away from me!" Pravalo shouted pure rage and took random aim before gripping his finger down onto the trigger igniting a bullet to escape.
Sky gave no hesitant consideration to step in front of the human Pathfinder's way, also blocking the trajectory of the bullet from going into the direction of the group of rescued Angara, allowing the strayed bullet to instantly disperse upon the dark silver armor. He moved out of the way allowing Scott Ryder to swiftly lunge at the dark green Angaran. Ryder hastily wrapped his arms around Pravalo's torso, and suddenly dropped his weight with the frenzied Angara pulling the two of their bodies to the floor. Ryder's movements were fast from the extensive amount of his military training. He swiftly pinned down Pravalo face down against the metal floor using the shoulder lock technique by firstly laying half of his weight firmly into an elbow jab directly upon the backside Pravalo's shoulder while holding the length of the Angaran's arm fully outstretched behind him. Scott braced Pravalo's arm being prepared to offer the painful motion of dislocating the Angara's shoulder from its socket if need be.
"Let go of the gun!" Scott commanded, nearly shouting.
Pravalo sighed defeat, his hand's grip became weakened by the muscle restriction and gradually dropped the weapon to the floor.
Sky's faceplate quickly raised into the direction of Tava whom stepped away from a starboard control console. The female Angara gradually spun around following Sky's unseen gaze looking through the starboard view window as a smoke trail was left behind by a launched missile zipping toward the adjacent Kett fighter ship across the hangar bay. The projectile exploded upon impact against the exterior of the bronze-colored metal which began the works of a chain reaction that caused the fighter ships located on either sides of the explosion to ignite into delayed eruptions.
Once Scott released hold of the Angara's arm, his body was forced into a roll as the Kett fighter ship's gravity was adverted to a declined angle. The Pathfinder suddenly slumped face down, pushing himself upon his elbows, and lifted his gaze toward the shimmer of dark silver armor holding Tava by the waist in his right arm and gripped down onto the starboard control with his left hand.
"What the hell was that?!" Pathfinder Ryder swiftly pushed himself up from his hands and knees to a standing posture. His sight immediately lifting onto a cloud of spewing flames outside of the starboard window. "Oh shit... What did I miss?"
"Tend to her, Pathfinder." Sky quietly spoke. His right arm unwrapped from Tava's waist allowing the Angara to fall onto her hands and knees in front of the human's boots. Sky took control of the helm with his left hand still upon the surface of the starboard console. The view of the starboard window adverted into the direction of the hangar bay's large closed doors.
"Sky, I seriously hope you have a plan to get us out of here!" Ryder nearly shouted raising his voice into a state of panic.
The hangar bay doors began to slide apart granting a minimal-sized gape for the Kett fighter ship to narrowly escape. The eruptions of flames rapidly filled the bay and quickly followed the fighter ship into the emptiness of space. The space craft's propulsion thrusters flipped over to max velocity providing an outrunning speed from the spewing flames as they began licking around the starboard window.
The human Pathfinder clenched his hands briefly into fists, taking in a deep breath, and slowly letting a relieved sigh come out once the Kett fighter ship was out of range of the fiery eruptions by the sight of pure darkness fully encompassing the view window. Scott murmured under his breath, "That was close." He gradually turned his direction onto the group of Angaran refugees before turning his head down spying Tava crawling on hands and knees toward her brother, whom had designated a distant wall to sit up against. The female sibling moved to sit upright beside her brother and offered a comforting embrace by wrapping her arms around him, "Pravalo... it's going to be alright. We're going home."
Pravalo closed his visible eye, turning to press his face into Tava's shoulder, and softly whimpered.
Scott returned his sight onto Sky's backside, briefly approaching and stopped to stand beside the enigmatic alien.
"I'll give you props; that was impressive! How did you learn how to fly one of these things? AND how did you possibly get the hangar doors to open without central commands from the flagship?"
Sky answered, disregarding to turn his attention toward the human Pathfinder, "Learning the Kett's language, Tonaizhet, was not difficult. I established an internal connection from this craft to the central control hub that commands the hangar bay doors to open."
Ryder crossed his arms over his chest, slowly shaking his head, "Again; impressive. We may have or may not have made it with Sam...Don't tell him I said that... I don't doubt Sam but what you did was... very impressive." He lowered his voice to a mutter.
"Who is Sam?" Sky finally turned his faceplate toward Scott.
"Simulated Adaptive Matrix. Sam... something my dad came up with. Sam's an artificial intelligence built to figure out the quickest way out of a jam... and I think you just put him to shame." Ryder explained, uplifting the corner of his lip into a smirk.
Sky murmured in a voice of very little surprise, "You are giving me a compliment..."
"Yeah." Scott shrugged and continued, "You don't get many compliments where you're from, do you?.. Wherever you're from."
Sky's helmet returned face forward, answering in dismay, "You have relentless curiosity."
Ryder's smirk broadened further, "It's human nature. It's a for sure thing that brought us to Andromeda."
"What is Andromeda?" Sky's voice expressed a sense of puzzlement as he diverted his faceplate toward the Initiative's human Pathfinder.
Scott made a very brief bewildered look and slowly answered, "Andromeda... it's the name of this star cluster system... Are you not from around?"
"I cannot confirm nor deny an answer."
The human's smirk vanished replacing his outlook with a narrowed expression, "I don't understand what you have to hide from me. We're off of the Kett flagship - I think it's time we buckle down and learn more about your side of the story. Where you're from and such personal info."
Sky lifted his hand away from the starboard's control console and answered with a deflect, "There are more important concerns. Those that have been rescued need attended to. You are familiar with their race and they have established that they know who you are. This situation is left to you to suit their needs"
"Me?"
"I am flying this ship." Sky murmured.
The human man imagined Sky rolling his eyes as Scott made inquiries. Ryder gradually nodded agreement, "Right... I guess I'm distracting you from flying the ship."
"Mildly." Sky finished.
Ryder lightly shrugged, unfolding his arms to drop his hands beside his hips, "Fine, fine. I completely understand that the ship cannot fly without a pilot. I'll leave you to it." Scott quickly turned away and started his approach toward the group of Angaran finding that many of the younger generation were curled up and fast asleep. Scott whispered, "Is everyone okay over here?" He stopped and knelt down to one knee in front of one of the Angara who remained awake. The purple-colored Angaran woman smiled warmly upon the man's approach as he came to sit down in front of her.
"We all know about you, Pathfinder Ryder. You joined forces with our people to stop the Archon's cruelty. Moshae Sjefa's words gave rise to your reputation. You are indeed very noble and kind."
"You don't mind if I ask you some questions?"
The Angara gently shook her head, "You may, it's the least I can do for what you have done."
"How long have you and these people been prisoner on the Kett flagship? It's been only a few months since the Archon was defeated.. I don't understand why there are still Angaran prisoners." Scott wondered.
"Some of us have come from Voeld or Havarl.. it might have been during the time that the Kett still had occupancy on both worlds... I was taken after coming to find out that a human from the Milky Way cluster had protected an uncharted world from the Archon.. This was most likely a last resort on the Kett's part after discovering that their revered leader, the Archon, was stopped. The Kett might have wanted to take as many of us with them after their Archon fell."
"Were there more?" Scott inquired in a worried voice.
"I... I'm not sure. I never saw who was taken or met any others outside of my cell... I'm just glad to be free at last... words cannot express my gratitude. Thank you ever so much, Pathfinder." The female Angaran bowed her head as a sign of upmost respect.
Scott smiled briefly "Take it easy and get some rest." He slowly arose and turned his direction toward the two siblings. He approached, looking down upon Pravalo curled up on the floor and laying his head into Tava's lap. "Tava? Is your brother going to be okay? Are... you okay?"
The female Angaran smiled tiredly as she lifted her head looking up to Ryder with a hope-filled look in her bright eyes, "I'm fine. As for my brother he's... I don't understand your human phrase Shell Shock and I'm uncertain if he'll be alright after what happened. He seemed to have returned to his Roekar ways and feared for my sake. Is Shell Shock permanent, Scott?"
Ryder gently shrugged, "I'm not sure how or if it affects Angara in the same way. If anything, at least he has a good sister that can help him through it."
Tava's smile brightened into an adoring expression, "Thank you so much, Scott. I don't know how I'll ever be able to repay-"
The Pathfinder offered a brief wave of his hand gently dismissing the notion, "You don't need to worry about it, Tava. I'm always glad to help."
"You are truly kind, Scott. I greatly admire you. If you were an Angara..." She lowered her voice to a very quiet whisper and made a shifty look toward Sky, "I still cannot comprehend the kind of abilities that Sky has. Scott, it's... scary to think about. Controlling the mind of another and making them do things against their will."
Scott gradually nodded in agreement, also lowering his voice, "The thought is very disturbing... but the Kett apparently have weak minds so that leaves us out."
"I can only wonder, though... is he really telling the truth?" Tava wondered softly.
The human man slowly knelt down and tilted his head, "What do you mean?"
Tava's bright blue eyes turned away as she replied, "I don't know if he used a human's phrase... I feel slightly guilty that I told him that I didn't trust him... his words... he brought to light something that has me wondering."
"Oh?"
"He said to me; appearances deceive, tongues lie, and idle hands betray. Thy actions orchestrate louder than words. Let thine own heart and mind entwined as one be judgement. Adhere to your instincts but do not let your eyes perceive as the guide... are these phrases used in your galaxy?" The Angara's blue eyes returned to stare upon the human in a curious manner.
Scott raised his eyebrows into a wide surprised look, "Whoa. I... I'm not quite sure. Director Addison might know a thing or two about poetry.. I really didn't think that Sky was the type to know poetic phrases."
Tava responded, "I'd really like to know what they mean... if you can them find out and send the information to me... There's no rush."
"Sure thing, Tava." Ryder smiled.
"Thank you again, Scott... if you don't mind, I'd like to rest..." Tava's lips curled into a bashful smirk as she slightly tilted her head, mimicking the human's motions.
Sky's voice interrupted in warning sound, "There is a problem with the navigational systems, Pathfinder."
Ryder softly sighed, regaining into a standing posture, and wheeled his direction toward Sky. He came up to the starboard console, looking down at the Kett-designed interface, and shrugged, "Okay... so, what's the problem?"
"We are on the correct course to return to Andromeda but the systems cannot plot a route through the unidentified interference." Sky motioned to the view window.
Scott opened his mouth beginning for a question, "What interference-" His eyes fell upon the sight of the burning gold jagged tendrils that spread through the darkness of space. The human Pathfinder grumbled, "We can't seem to get cut a break. That interference is called the Scourge. I highly recommend that we go around it... really FAR around."
Sky placed down his left palm upon the control console giving direction for the Kett fighter ship to steer away from the anomaly cloud and plotted a new course once outside range of the Scourge.
Pathfinder Ryder glanced between the starboard window and Sky with a confused look.
"...No remarks? Questions?"
Sky replied, "The Kett database that I have downloaded from provides information in regards to the space cloud known as the Scourge. I shall heed your suggestion and avoid it at possible costs."
"Wait- the data that you took from the Kett flagship has information about the Scourge?"
"Yes. The data files that I have obtained proves valuable resources of knowledge; including the wide range of information regarding the origin of Kett. There is some insightful information on the many races that have come from a galaxy of stars called the Milky Way. This is a very strange name to give to a galaxy."
Ryder narrowed his eyes into a look of dismay, "That's where I'm from... What other information does the data have?"
"Some of the sources of information were obtained through studying live subjects.. I will not go over those details." Sky paused for a moment appearing to be lost in thought and ultimately continued, "This strikes me as an important aspect in regards to your Milky Way cluster; The Kett are future planning a course to travel across the dark void to reach your Milky Way. Their process called Exaltation would initially be inflicted upon your people, Pathfinder."
Scott shook his head again, displaying a discouraged look, "I don't think that's possible. It took the Initiative six hundred years to come to Andromeda.." He fell into silent contemplation. Scott dwelled into his thoughts remembering that the Angaran people had shared their stories with him about the Kett having also come from dark space and arrived to the Heleus cluster eighty years ago. "Well, shit." Scott muttered as he clenched both of his hands into fists at his sides. "Who knows how far ahead the Kett have been planning this but I can't let them leave to invade MY old home!"
Sky nodded agreement, "I agree, Pathfinder. This information is vital and must go to your people. If the Angaran have endured this much cruelty it is very likely that yours will share the same fate."
"Well, maybe. It's doubtful because we have military training so we are prepared for the worst case scenario.. on the other plus side, there's also the Krogan."
"Krogan? What are the Krogan?" Sky asked but his question was dismissed as Ryder began a rant of muttering curses, "Just when things fucking finally have a chance to settle down I have to be the bearer of bad news, again. I was honestly hoping that the Kett were looking for a vacation spot."
Sky lowered his helmet, as if looking down, and announced, "Sensors detect that there are multiple ships inbound to our location."
"Are they friendlies? Can you make positively sure that they're not Kett? Please don't let them be Kett... I'm getting really sick of those assholes." Ryder's voice raised into an agitated sound.
"They are not Kett but they are attempting to input a communications relay to this vessel's systems. Shall I accept?" Sky raised and turned his reflective visor toward the human man.
Scott heavily sighed in order to regain his lost sense of composure and reluctantly nodded, "Yeah, let's see who is trying to talk to us."
"Attention, Kett vessel, this is the Andromeda Initiative with the Angaran Resistance-" The familiar feminine commanding voice began an announcement over the communication system's relay.
Ryder expressed a surprised look and asked with a hopeful sound in his voice, "Captain Dunn?! Is that you?!"
Captain Dunn's voice displayed complete disbelief, "Ryder? Ryder?! Pathfinder, you're alive?! Holy shit!" She raised all communications, "EVERYONE, STAND DOWN! It's our Pathfinder!"
The human Pathfinder deeply sighed releasing a relieved sigh and excitedly questioned, "How did you find us?"
"Sam kept us informed about your status, all the while, broadcasting your signal the entire time so that we can follow the trail. It's paid off. I've gotta say; I seriously thought that someone installed a program for Sam to make jokes when I first heard of your capture, Pathfinder Ryder. Everyone received the message and pitched in to come save your ass." Captain Dunn answered.
Scott broadened a smile as he anxiously inquired, "Everyone?"
"RYDER!" Suvi's voice chanted happily over the speaker's transponder.
"Suvi?! The Tempest is here, too? Is everyone there?"
"Right here, Scott." Vetra's composed sound of voice was next received over the transponder.
"Vetra," The human man made a worried look and lowered his voice trying to contain his joy, "Are you holding up okay, Vetra?"
"Is THAT Scott?!" The sound of Sara Ryder suddenly chimed in.
Scott gasped surprise, "Sara?!"
"Scott! You're alright! Just HOW did you escape?"
"Let's just say the sky was watching over me." The human Pathfinder answered in a very coy manner.
Sky muttered, "If you are referring my name as an ironic metaphor I will fulfill my curiosity to find out if a human can breath in space..."
Sara's voice inquired with both worry and confusion sound, "Um... Who's that?"
"This is Sky-" Scott began to answer but was interrupted as the robotic calm voice of the artificial intelligence respectfully injected, "Pathfinder, you are within my processor's range. We can again communicate."
"Sam! Oh, it's so good to hear you again!"
"We're all thinking the same thing of our Pathfinder." Cora Harper's voice spoke in a diligent mannerism.
Sky disregarded any concern of the human Pathfinder's reunion and muttered, "If you have any interest to know, Pathfinder, we have been set on course to follow the Andromeda Initiative vessels to the star system labeled; Zheng He. Docking status is pending. Approval will be made to board the Nexus prior undergoing quarantine procedures."
"You are Sky... My scans cannot identify what species of lifeform that you are, however, I can detect an awareness directly connected into the console's interfacing and retrieval of information from the Tempest's and the Initiative's space craft data systems. You are infringing upon classified information, Sky."
"Umm..." The human Pathfinder glanced upon the silver figure with a puzzled look, "Um, this is awkward... Sky? Meet Sam.. Sam, meet Sky..."
'Scott, bypassing into the Initiative's data files are a high classified offense. Sky does not have the proper authority to access Nexus information.' Sam's voice diverted to the private channel.
Sky offered his objection, "I did not approve your artificial intelligence to scan me."
Ryder hesitantly inquired, "Uh... Do I need to keep you two in separate rooms?" The human man made an anxious look and explained in his heavy sigh, "Sky, just relax. This is what Sam does. Look, we'll be arriving at the Nexus. There's a lot of safety protocol and hacking is in the not-to-do list. I'll let this one slide IF you can play nice with everyone."
The voice of Sara Ryder briefly cleared her throat over the communication transponder, "O-kay.. I think I'll stay out of this one... We'll talk when we get docked at the Nexus, okay, Scott?"
The Pathfinder splayed his hand over his helmet's visor in an act of embarrassment, "Ah, shit... Sam, you forgot to turn off the broadcast.." He thought to himself, 'I probably now look like an AI and alien babysitter.'