Paaran Shie waited patiently upon the docking platform with a small gathered group of Angaran citizens anxiously murmuring amongst themselves as the Andromeda Initiative frigate-class ship made a graceful touch down into Aya's port bay. Scott Ryder firstly emerged walking down the boarding ramp followed by Sara Ryder, Jaal Ama Darav, and Lamees dus Conta. Paaran nervously fidgeted her fingers together, adverting her eyes back and forth between the two human siblings, the Angaran Resistance Lieutenant, and finally onto the orange red-colored Jardaan. She approached Scott Ryder and offered the Angaran shoulder-to-shoulder greeting. She next offered the greeting with Sara in the form of upmost respect.

The Angaran governor reformed her anxious demeanor into diligent composure, "Stars and skies light your way, Pathfinder Ryder and Sara. It is good to see you and your sister again upon Aya."

The human man responded politely, "Likewise, Governor Paaran Shie. I'm presuming that this welcome party is for Lamees." Scott and Sara carefully stepped aside permitting Paaran Shie to advert her attention toward the Jardaan.

Lamees cordially approached and vibrantly smiled up to the governor of Aya.

Paaran began soothingly, "Paavoa set Aya. I am Paaran Shie, the governor for the Angaran people on this world. I have received the recent and incredible discovery that you were born of the ancestral race known as Jardaan. Your civilization was responsible for giving life to the Angara and for this we are truly honored and remain humble to look upon a living Jardaan. My words alone cannot express how exciting this is for all Angara here on Aya and the colonized worlds we live upon."

Lamees exchanged the Angaran greeting with the Angaran governor and spoke happily, "I am Lamees dus Conta. Aya has become profound with life that I never anticipated to ever see in my lifetime! I remember that this world was still undergoing the installment of the environmental systems. Aya's beauty has exceeded beyond my expectations."

Paaran offered an appreciative nod, "The Vault's and Meridian's systems have done their part to ensure a prosperous world for the Angara. We are all eternally grateful for what the Jardaan have given to us. Having you here among us is certainly a mark in our history that will never be forgotten."

"I must ask, Governor Paaran Shie," Lamees contorted her expression into a hopeful-anxious look, "Have the Angaran found the relics from Khi Tasira? Were they able to regain the rebirth of memories?"

Jaal stood beside the Jardaan woman and implied as gently as he could, "Lamees, I'm afraid that relics in which you speak of were never found within the Remnant city. It is a great fear to wonder if the Kett had found them when they had taken first possession of the city."

Lamees wheeled onto the male Angaran and raised her head up with a ghastly look, "What?! No! That can't be possible! Those relics are meant for the Angara so that the Jardaan's memories could be passed down!"

Scott Ryder slowly shook his head and spoke in apology, "When we took Khi Tasira from the Kett we had no idea about the relics or their whereabouts at the time. We gained control of the city months ago before we stopped the Archon and saved Meridian... Sam didn't find any record of the relics kept in a safe box or something for us to find."

The Jardaan made sorrow sound in her reply toward the human Pathfinder, "If the Tehet had indeed found our heirlooms then it's possible that the items would have been stolen. Those relics are the Angara's only hope to gain the knowledge from my people." Lamees' voice hinted an obvious sarcastic demeanor, "I don't suppose the Tehet have an information center for our access to find out where the items have been taken."

Sara politely injected toward her sibling and questioned, "Scott, what about the data that Sky brought back from the Kett flagship? Wouldn't there have been something about that?"

The robotic voice of Sam arose to answer Sara's question, "I am afraid not, Sara. If there had been any information regarding ancient Angaran relics it could have been erased from the Kett database or never stored onto the file systems. If the mentioned items were found by the Kett it may be possibly considered that the relics were deemed invaluable for the Kett to gain any useful information from and perhaps discarded. There are many possibilities that the Kett may have stored the ancient relics for safe-keeping until they have discovered their purpose for use. These are only presumptions, of course."

Lamees profoundly exclaimed, "We have to find them!"

Jaal nodded agreement and smiled in assurance, "I suggest that we seek Evfra's help on this, Lamees. Our Resistance scouts might be able to find clues for us. I shall take you to the Resistance Headquarters to meet with Evfra." The Angaran Lieutenant turned to the Pathfinder and inquired, "Coming, Ryder?"

"You know I want to see the look on Evfra's face when he meets Lamees, right?" Scott's lips curled into a sly smirk as he glanced between Jaal and the Angaran Governor.

Paaran Shie raised puzzlement into her voice, "As would I."

Jaal cleared his throat preventing a chuckle from escaping and made gesture as he faced the female Jardaan, "I'll show you to the Resistance Headquarters."

Sara quickly injected, "I'll catch up with you guys later." The human woman waved in passing.

"This way." Paaran smiled down to Lamees. She turned to walk together with the Jardaan woman and began the way toward the city streets.

Pathfinder Ryder followed behind Jaal and Paaran whom both provided as Lamees' escort through the city. Scott turned his head side-to-side taking note and muttering to himself as he watched the reactions of Aya's citizens, "I didn't get this kind of attention when I came through..."

Sam's voice provided explanation in the Pathfinder's private channel, 'This event precedes our alliance with the Angara, Scott. Aya's citizens were in a state of apprehension to entrust the Initiative any regard during the Kett occupation. Lamees dus Conta is the pinnacle of the Angaran's answers they have long sought for in the creation of their race.'

"Sam..." Ryder murmured and narrowed his expression at nothing in particular.

'Yes, Scott?'

"Stop rubbing it in." The human man murmured in stern tone under his breath.

'That was not my intention, Scott. I apologize.'

"You're forgiven, Sam."

The two Angara, Lamees, and the human Pathfinder following up, passed under the opening door leading into the Resistance's headquarters.

The Angaran Resistance Leader Evfra de Tershaav was standing face forward to one of the display screens on the wall to the left side of the room. He muttered silent Angaran curse words before turning his attention toward the group that came into the headquarters. Evfra suddenly became struck with a dumb-founded look and quickly shook his head prior diverting his full attention onto Lamees. The Angaran resistance leader stared with a wide look upon the Jardaan's physical appearance.

"You.. y-you... you..." Evfra was caught into a stutter after fixating his gaze into Lamees' golden eyes.

Lamees lifted a questionable expression, glancing around to Jaal, Scott, and Paaran. The Jardaan politely asked in a lowered mutter, "I'm confused. What's wrong with him?"

Scott cocked an eyebrow, looking upon Evfra with the same perplexity, "Not really sure. It's like he's never seen a Jardaan before.. Oh, right! He hasn't... until just now."

The Angaran governor stifled a giggle, "I've never seen Evfra make this expression before. Quite amusing."

Jaal quietly chuckled, "I believe Ambassador Sjefa would like to see this. Shall I get a picture?"

"You better do it before he realizes-" Scott lowered his voice into a whisper and was suddenly interrupted as the Angaran resistance leader whipped his head to glare at Ryder, "Shut it, Pathfinder." Evfra growled annoyance.

Lamees had brought up her hands to cover her mouth trying to prevent a giggling fit and spoke in a muffled voice, "I like this one. He's funny."

Evfra quickly returned his astonishment onto Lamees and protested in the hint of embarrassment, "I'm NOT funny. I'm not some sort of child's form of entertainment! Ryder," He glared at Scott again, "the Jardaan is a child?"

The human man quickly shook his head and put an index finger against his own lips to signal the Angara to silence.

"CHILD?! Child?! Why does everyone assume that I'm a child?! I'll have you know that I'm much older and probably more experienced than you!" Lamees glowered deathly up to Evfra.

Both Pathfinder Ryder and Jaal swiftly stepped back several feet away.

"This isn't going to end well..." Scott murmured.

"I'm actually curious to find out how it will end." Jaal's voice lowered to a whisper.

Paaran Shie half-turned to glance toward the human and the Resistance Lieutenant before looking down upon the Jardaan with the same realization. She, too, stepped back and followed Scott's and Jaal's lead by standing toward the back of the room.

Evfra suddenly gasped surprise as the collar of his armor was grabbed by Lamees' hand and forcefully pulled down to come to eye level with the Jardaan.

"You are the one called Evfra? Jaal Ama Darav has nominated that your scouts can lend assistance in the search for the lost heirlooms of my people. These items are of significant value and I have every desire to find them." Lamees stared hard into the Angara's eyes.

Evfra found himself roughly swallowing and softened his voice, "I am... yes, I'm.. Evfra de Tershaav. You.. you are not what I had expected."

"If that's your way of apology then I accept." Lamees giggled with a brightly grin. She released Evfra's armor allowing him to regain into his tall stature. She planted her hands onto the sides of her hips, "When can you send the scouts?"

"Uh, um.. I need more details for what they should be looking for." Evfra lifted one of his hands to rub around his neck in an anxious manner.

Lamees nodded up to Evfra, "Of course. Malvizon can upload the information to your computer systems. When shall I anticipate your scouts to return?"

Evfra slowly shook his head, "Wait- I haven't even... you.. are the Jardaan?"

Lamees dus Conta momentarily giggled, "You are truly amusing, Evfra de Tershaav. I think we have already established that I'm the Jardaan that everyone is talking about."

Paaran Shie faced toward Scott Ryder and inquired suspiciously, "Has something come over Evfra? I've never seen him caught off-guard like this before."

Pathfinder Ryder smirked, "I think it's a delayed reaction." He came forward together with Jaal and the Angaran governor to again approach Evfra and Lamees.

Evfra continued to speak while still in a state of surprise, "I didn't anticipate that you would be... Ahem. Anyway, yes, I'll get right on that." The Angaran resistance leader quickly composed himself into stern form, "What is this Malvizon that you are speaking about?"

The Jardaan offered her left wrist outward toward Evfra bringing to life the green glow from the orb's light and smiled enthusiasm, "This is Malvizon. He is my artificial intelligence directly linked with me through my armor suit. As Ryder calls him; my partner in crime. Mal is installed with all of the Jardaan data log files and information records about each heirloom that is supposed to be succeeded down to their proper Angaran descendant. I need every aspect of information that your scouts can find."

Evfra crossed his arms defensively and lowly growled, "My scouts haven't reported in yet from their current duties."

"Where are they at now, Evfra?" Jaal intruded into the conversation with curious inquiry.

"I've sent them to that accursed Kett temple that the Pathfinder didn't blow up on the first round-about when he saved Moshae -ahem- Ambassador Sjefa. There is still undiscovered data to be found at the temple, however, the place is still under Kett occupancy. The scouts haven't made any reports in the last five hours."

Scott injected anxiously, "If the Kett still have the temple then wouldn't it have been better to just avoid the place?"

"There are still unaccounted Angara in that hellish place, Pathfinder. I will be damned if I can't get every last one out! Stars curse me for saying this but Sjefa is right - our numbers are little in comparison to the Kett. The more we have the better. Angaran don't grow like weeds."

The human Pathfinder scoffed, "You are using a human metaphor, Evfra. It was only a matter of time before you warmed up to me."

Evfra glared grimly toward Scott and muttered great disdain, "I don't warm up to anyone. Get out of here and find my scouts. I'd prefer them to be brought back alive. If you can manage that then I may be able to find some useful information in regards to the Jardaan's relics."

"Is that an order, Evfra? I'll only accept just because you asked nicely." Scott quipped.

Evfra rolled his eyes and grumbled a sigh.

Lamees exchanged puzzlement between the human and Evfra, "Temple? What is the Tehet temple? I want to go!"

Jaal gallantly protested, "I'm afraid it may be too dangerous for you to go with us, Lamees."

Lamees burst into laughter and retort, "Have you not taken notice of my abilities, Jaal? I'm more than capable to stand my own ground."

Jaal roughly swallowed, "I believe that you are more than capable.. I wasn't implying that you couldn't.. we are all concerned about your safety."

Lamees argued point and chuckled, "I'm the only Jardaan left alive. This is the reason, isn't it?" She wheeled onto the Pathfinder and lifted a stern look into the human's bright blue eyes, "I'm going, Scott Ryder."

Scott silently gulped and had taken notice from the corner of his eye the amazed look on Evfra's face.

.

.

Pathfinder Ryder's Omni-tool cutting frequency rapidly etched a large circle into the bronze metal plate that covered the outside structure of the air duct that was built into the side of the Kett temple. He disengaged the powerful frequency by lowering his left arm and took a step back. Scott turned to the Krogan and motioned forward, "It's all yours, Drack."

The old Nackmor Krogan stomped out of the mixture of ice slush forming from the heavily falling sleet. Drack approached the solid plate cover and quickly raised one of his legs to kick in the seared metal which promptly dropped inward and upon the ground with a sudden thunderous clattering echo rushing through the air shaft. The large Krogan wheeled into Lamees' direction and grumbled down to her, "I hope you're not going in dressed like that, kid."

Lamees smirked in smug fashion and placed her hands upon her hips, "Don't worry, Krogan. Want to see what I have to offer?"

The human overlooked Drack's shoulder toward Lamees as the darkened plates on her chest cavity began to rapidly unfold to create an entire shell of Remnant armor around her body. The construct of a full helmet wrapped around her head with a blackened visor over the placement of her large eyes. After the armor's construction the visor and various areas between the metal plates emitted a green glow.

"That is really, really, cool armor, Lamees. If Peebee were here I'd think she'd be a little jealous." The human Pathfinder remarked in amazed awe.

"If Peebee were here than I wouldn't be here to enjoy the fun of making Ketts' heads explode. I would get jealous, Ryder." Drack grumbled in his retort and swiftly returned his attention forward.

Scott shook his head before spinning his helmet into facing the darkness within the air duct and murmured, "Well, here we are again. I really didn't think we'd make a return trip to this place... Maybe the Kett will have a surprise party waiting for us..."

The Nackmor Krogan grumbled, "If the Kett leave themselves open as target practice then I might consider hosting the parties. Add a head-butting contest to the list of games to play.. What's that human game that you try to bite apples? Why not try live grenades instead?"

"It's called Bobbing for Apples. I'd rather watch instead if you're the one in charge of the games, Drack." Scott answered as he pulled the favored weapon from its holster and braced it in the grip of both of his hands. He dipped himself forward passing under the opening. The human Pathfinder cautiously walked forward with the beam of light from his helmet shining down the wide tunnel shaft.

Drack followed up with a Krogan-fashioned shotgun pointing toward the ground and responded with a growling laugh, "Ha! You're not having fun unless you take chances, Ryder. What'll make it more interesting; pulling the pin to find out if it's a dud or not."

Scott slowly replied, "Riiight. I suppose the decorations would include Kett body parts smeared across the walls? Whose game for racing through a landmine field? Whoever reaches the other side wins."

"Now you're thinking like a Krogan!" Drack's voice erupted into a rumbling chuckle.

"I would suppose the party favors would include the creatures' skulls and their weapons as free gifts to the patrons." Sky softly injected from behind the Pathfinder squad.

The Krogan half-turned in his walk and peered over his shoulder toward the dark silver armor following directly behind the female Jardaan. Drack cackled, "I like your thinking, kid! And what's this thing about you having the ability to mind control Kett? Can you make them dance? I've never seen a Kett dance... it'd be something different to see. Not that I'd like to watch them dance, just something as a form of entertainment for the party guests. If anyone gets bored then I can just shoot the Kett."

Lamees glanced with puzzled looks between Sky and the Nackmor Krogan, "I don't understand... why is there implication that the Tehet are going to have a party waiting for us? I was led to believe that they are our enemies."

Pathfinder Ryder continued forward emerging into a long stretched bronze metal-encased room. He briefly turned his helmet giving glance toward the Jardaan and lightly shrugged in his reply, "We're.. joking around, Lamees. It eases the squad's mood."

"Joking around? Is this a human idiom? Jaal has informed me that your people like to use jargons and metaphors to depict in conversations with other lifeforms. I'm catching on in a sense."

The beam of light gradually swayed side-to-side as Scott viewed around the room and softly spoke, "Huh.. this is very strange. The barrier outside is still functioning but there's no lights on in here."

"Pathfinder, I detect life signs coming into your immediate area. Take caution." Sam's voice wanred over the squad's transponders.

"If they're Kett then that's all we need to know." Drack growled quietly and moved into defensive position with the shotgun at the ready.

Pathfinder Ryder injected inquiry, "How many, Sam?"

"Unknown. There seems to be an unknown signal of interference coming from these particular Kett lifeforms." The Pathfinder's AI replied calmly.

"Mal? Can you lend assistance-" Lamees was interrupted as Sky suddenly came between the group and outstretched his right arm to ignite the silver glowing spherical barrier around the entire squad.

A glowing string of bullets suddenly struck upon the shielding.

"WHOA! What the hell?! Where did that come from?" Scott demanded and began turning his helmet's light and handgun's scope together into the area where the gun blasts had come from.

"I can see them." Sky's echoing voice spoke coolly. "They are Kett but they are different in comparison to the ones I have seen before."

"Don't tell me that you have night-vision, Sky." Scott's voice hinted envy.

Sky answered in monotone, "I will not tell you that I have night vision."

The Pathfinder rolled his eyes, "Smart ass... You're starting to sound like Sa-"

The walls within the room erupted into the echoing sound of rapid sputtering gunfire as a rain of glowing bullets zipped from multiple directions. The deadly projectiles silently dispersed upon contact on the surface of the silver glistening shield. Scott whipped his head back and forth bringing the beam of light onto any of the shadowed figures that stood within range to be identifiable. The human man picked one of the hidden targets and raised the scope's sight just slightly above the glowing wave of bullets. His index and middle finger rapidly switched back and forth upon the trigger unleashing a round of bullets onto the unseen Kett. The weapon's point moved onto the next target for Ryder to unload another barrage of bullets until the glow of the enemy's bullets diminished and the sound of a boney body crumbling to the metal floor.

"This is NOT how a fight should be! I can't see anything! How am I supposed to shoot at something that I can't see?!" Drack shouted angrily.

Lamees raised her left arm to make a swipe with her right hand across the metal bracer plate before grabbing and pulling off a metal fragment from her chest plate and threw the metal piece to the ground at her feet.

"Initialize the combat drone, Malvizon!"

"Acknowledged, miss Lamees." Mal's deepened robotic voice responded.

The Remnant metal plate suddenly sprung up to hover into the air and rapidly unfolded into taking the similar shape of an Observer Remnant robot which displayed a brilliance of green glowing light from its central core. The Observer zipped through the air making a charge toward the direction of one of the Kett creatures and ignited a red glowing beam upon its chosen target. The Jardaan flung another metal piece high above the Pathfinder squad. The darkened plate quickly transformed into a spherical shape of a hovering Remnant robot that suddenly lit the entire room aglow with green waves of light shining between its metal plates.

Scott focused onto one of the Kett as it dipped into cover behind one of the large obstacles within the room.

The Krogan laughed in battle thrill, "Now that's much better! Thanks, kid!" Drack charged through the silver barrier toward one of the very slender Kett creatures bashing shoulder first into the Kett's body and slammed the creature against the wall located directly behind the Kett. "Ah, shit.. Ryder, I think I know what these things were exalted from..." Drack muttered in his step back. The Krogan whirled around and raised the shotgun's point onto the nearest target prior unloading a few explosive rounds into its bone-structured body.

The Initiative's Pathfinder momentarily gaped into a shocked factor, "I see them, Drack.. FUCK! They're Salarians..."

Sam's voice arose, "These may very well be the same Salarians that were taken from the Salarian Ark Paarchero. They have undergone the exaltation process, Pathfinder."

Scott softly sighed, "I can't believe this... the Kett are pinning our own against us.."

"It was either them or Krogan. These things are a lot squishier, so, I'm very glad you chose to save the Krogan otherwise I'd have to shoot one of my own, Ryder. I don't like shooting another Krogan unless he deserves it... not that these Salarians deserve it but... now they're Kett. I shouldn't feel as bad." Drack's rumbling voice called out from the other side of the room. He roared in his charge to smash another exalted Salarian's bone-covered body into one of the walls.

The gunfire gradually ceased allowing a moment of silence between the squad members as they began to fan out to examine over the exalted Salarian bodies. Ryder raised the handgun into one hand and knelt down beside one of the dead creatures. He studied over the milky white-colored large eyes and muttered to himself in observation, "I've noticed that the eyes are always white but they were black when Sky had them under his control.. This is useful to know."

The Krogan approached to stand over the human man and grumbled, "Ryder."

Scott slowly regained into a standing posture and turned his helmet toward Drack, "Just something I noticed. We'll be able to tell the difference when the Kett are on our side. They have black-colored eyes."

Lamees lifted her glowing visor up to Sky, "Your ability to control the Kett will prove very useful in these circumstances. The more numbers we have on our side the greater our chances to survive."

Sky slowly lowered his right arm, quickly casting away the silver barrier, and walked away from the Jardaan without an immediate answer. His helmet directed toward the human, "I will grant my abilities when they are deemed necessary... Pathfinder, we must press on."

Scott made one last glance upon the exalted Salarian's body and cursed under his breath, "Damn it... I didn't expect this to happen so soon .. Sam.. if only I..." The Pathfinder trailed off. He firmly gripped the handgun into both hands again and took point ahead of the squad.

'I am fully aware of the circumstances, Scott. It was a difficult decision to have made to save one or the other. Although the Archon may be gone the marks of his cruelty still linger even to this day. These marks are the constant reminders for a person's determination to endure through the hardships of war in order to protect those that cannot protect themselves from the greatest threats.' Sam's calm voice spoke through the private channel.

'That's something dad would say...' Scott thought to himself.