Peebee's voice cheerful sound proclaimed through the large cargo bay area, "The Quarian Ark is here! It's time to go meet some jellyfish!"

"What are jellyfish?" Lamees expressed a puzzled look between Jaal and Liam.

The Tempest's crew and squad mates had gathered into the large bay area with Scott and Sara Ryder to make for the cargo bay's descending ramp. The human Pathfinder had ceased any further approach and quickly lifted his arm giving the signal motion for the crew to stop.

Vetra Nyx made quizzically looks over Scott's shoulder and had taken notice of the Nexus militia security quickly came onboard with weapons in standby position. She anxiously murmured directly behind Ryder, "Oh shit. This can't be good."

The Pathfinder made eye-contact with Tiran Kandros whom firstly came up the runway. Scott began to demand in questioning sound, "Kandros, what's this-"

The Salarian Director of the Nexus Jarun Tann stepped out from behind the security staff and slinked his way forward to come stand before Pathfinder Ryder.

Jarun boldly announced, "I'm relinquishing Doctor Lexi T'Perro of her duties and medical services from the Tempest for insubordination. I'm replacing her with a doctor who can follow my direct order. I'm also placing the alien known as Sky under arrest until the issue has been resolved." Tann crossed his arms behind his back and glowered onto Scott Ryder.

Scott angrily objected, "What the hell are you doing?! You can't-"

"Doctor Lexi T'Perro has refused to send the requested medical files to my data logs prior the Tempest's arrival, Ryder." Director Tann patiently snapped.

"What the hell-" Scott started to argue but was silenced by the Asari doctor charging around and stood between the human Pathfinder and Jarun Tann.

Lexi gave the Salarian a firm look and offered protest, "Wait a minute! I thought Sam transferred the data files!"

Jarun Tann retort toward the Asari doctor, "Apparently not, Doctor T'Perro. Whatever reason you have-"

"I prevented the transfer." Sky's voice echoed over the entire bay.

Together Scott, Lexi, and Jarun turned their attention toward the dark silver figure of Sky elegantly approaching and stood outside of both rings consisting of the Tempest's crew and the Nexus personnel.

Sky explained, "I hacked into Sam to stop him from initiating the transfer." His helmet whipped onto the Salarian Director's direction, "I implore that you reconsider Lexi's employment to remain among the crew of the Tempest. The fault is mine to take. Failure to comply to the Initiative's standards was my own doing." Sky extended both wrists outward toward Kandros. "Arrest me. I will go without falter."

Tann nodded toward Tiran Kandros signal-motioning for the Turian to seize the arrest.

The security officer started his approach toward Sky, holstering his weapon and produced a pair of cuffs to snap around Sky's outstretched wrists. Kandros slowly shook his head, sighing, "Let's go."

Kandros, with his squad following-up, guided the tall silver figure down the cargo bay's boarding ramp.

The Salarian Director's attention returned onto Scott Ryder and the Asari doctor. His demeanor had rapidly changed to express slight enthusiasm, "Well, that's a relief. I didn't have to replace you, Doctor T'Perro."

Scott Ryder snapped, "This isn't right, Tann! Sky is part of this crew - you can't just arrest him!"

The Asari included her objection, "Don't take this out on, Sky, Director. He may have a good reason for doing what he did."

Tann glared down to Lexi first and quietly sneered, "I suggest that you don't put yourself on the line to defend Sky, Doctor. Losing your job won't be worth it." He returned his focus onto the human Pathfinder again and continued, "Sky, or whoever he really is, failed to comply to our rules. Hacking Sam is also another probable cause to warrant for arrest. I cannot consider releasing him now that he has openly admitted hacking into our artificial intelligence's system files. We can only wonder what more damage he can cause if he is able to bypass Sam's firewalls! This is not good, Ryder."

Ryder expressed his opinion in an agitated manner, "Whatever Sky's reasons are I'm sure there's justification, Tann."

"Well, I'm sure I'll find out why Sky has refused to let his true identity be known once I have obtained the medical data files. We have more important matters to consider, Ryder. The Quarian Ark has docked into the Nexus station and it's your role, as the Pathfinder, to welcome the rest of the Milky Way races into Andromeda. I suggest you that you let this go and put on a show of good faith for everyone." The Salarian whirled around and began his descend down the boarding platform.

Zeemi momentarily waited before muttering a curse, "What an arrogant Bosh'tet! And you have to answer to him?! I ought to send a Geth virus to his personal terminal..."

"Tann is one hell of a slimy devious little Pyjak. If you can pull that off I'll give you one of my favorite guns." Drack's rumbling voice loudly proclaimed from behind the crew.

Liam was the first to whirl around and make a surprised exclaim, "Drack? Hey, you're up AND walking!"

Vetra's mandibles gently wiggled as she glimpsed upon the Nackmor Krogan coming toward the group. The Turian mercenary asked in the hint of joyfulness, "How are you feeling, Drack?"

The old Krogan nodded and grumbled in an excited tone, "Feeling a hella lot better than ever. It's a miracle what those little robot things did. All of the pain is gone. Whatever they did I feel like I just got my old body back before I got hit by the frag grenades. Hell, I think some of my organs have grown back."

Peebee crossed her arms under her bust and asked aloud, "Is there anyway I can get some of Nano-nites? Maybe I can reverse Ryder's charming personality into something more... interesting. Something more bubbly, perhaps. I'd like a Pathfinder who knows how to dance."

Scott narrowed his eyes toward the Asari and defensively replied, "I know how to dance, Peebee. You're just never around to see how awesome I really am."

Sara lightly coughed, "...a Pyjak can dance better than Scott."

The Asari doctor dipped her head down, showing a look of sadness, and whispered to herself, "This shouldn't have happened..."

Pathfinder Ryder quickly turned his attention onto the Asari doctor and worriedly inquired, "What's up, Lexi?"

The Asari medical officer exhaled a deep sigh and looked around to the circle of crew members that formed around her. Lexi made an obvious anxious expression in her explanation, "I finally convinced Sky that his dossier information will be held in the most secure form in its transference to Director Tann... I can't believe that he hacked Sam to prevent the files from being transferred..."

Sam's robotic voice implied calmly, "I have not suffered any adverse affects from the hacking sequence, Doctor T'Perro. Sky made it clear that his intentions weren't meant to do any harm on my programming and system files. He stated his obvious distrust in Director Jarun Tann. Sky wanted a reason to be arrested in order to gain a direct line of access into the Nexus file systems."

"WHAT?!" Both Scott and Lieutenant Harper blurted out in unison.

Cora Harper quickly shook her head and retort, "What reason does Sky have to-"

Sam injected respectfully, "Sky instigated the theory that the first seven Nexus Leaders' cause of deaths were not an accident caused by the Scourge. Sky has brought his concern directly to me and wanted my assistance to look into the one known as the Benefactor."

The human Pathfinder swiftly quipped, "Hold on a minute, Sam. How does Sky have the information about the Benefactor? Those files are on the Hyperion..." Scott trailed off into silent contemplation.

The artificial intelligence retained calm composure in his response, "Prior the Tempest's departure from the planet Meridian Sky had visited Ark Hyperion's site. I advised him that logging into Alec Ryder's personal logs would be highly discouraged without the Pathfinder's permission."

"AND you now just tell me this, Sam?!" Scott demanded and slowly made the realization, "Wait - don't tell me that Sky hacked into... That son of a-"

Lieutenant Cora Harper gently shook her head and implied, "Ryder, we'll have time to get the answers from Sky later. You might want to catch up with Tann and make your appearance known on the Nexus. The Pathfinder still has his duties to perform. We're all right behind you."

Scott took in a deep slow breath and quietly sighed in his attempt to shake off his agitation. He nodded in agreement to Cora and huffed, "Right. Pathfinder duties... putting on good looks and a good show for everyone." He started down the boarding ramp, coming down onto the docking platform with his sister and Vetra Nyx to either side, and the Pathfinder squad and crew following up.

An uproar of cheers and rapturous shouts filled the Nexus Docking Bay from the gathered crowds that had waited in anticipation for the human Pathfinder's arrival. The Nexus residents vigorously waved and rapidly clapped to display their excitement.

Pathfinder Ryder raised one of his arms to briefly wave around while walking steady stride across the docking platform. He walked through the docking platform's entrance corridor and lastly emerged through the doorway to appear in the main area of the Docking Bay.

The Salarian Director of the Nexus stood upon the raised platform and immediately proclaimed, "Here he is, the Andromeda Initiative's Pathfinder and Meridian's most honorable hero, Pathfinder Scott Ryder!" Jarun knelt down to one knee and outstretched one of his hands to extend toward the human man, "Ryder, the human Pathfinder, you must have a few words to say to your newest accomplishment - finding and bringing home the Quarian Ark!"

Ryder grinned to himself in his imagining physically pulling down the Salarian from a golden pedestal and swiftly swinging a boot to the side of Jarun's head. He quickly shook off the vengeful thought and granted nobility as the better purveyor. The human man accepted Tann's offered hand to be leveraged onto the platform that overlooked the Docking Bay's surrounding area. Both Ryder and the Salarian stood together. Scott glimpsed around to find Quarians, the floating forms of Hanar, Elcor, and Drell spread throughout the docking area.

Scott waited for silence to fall upon the Docking Bay. He glanced briefly around and composed himself into a proud stature in his proclaim speech, "We all have come from a vast universe that had kept our different worlds and our different civilizations far apart. We were all led to believe that we were alone in the grand scale of the Milky Way galaxy. The realization brought an impactful truth that this was a false presumption which has led every one of us into facing the challenges and conflicts that have pinned our different races against each other. History is a written reminder of the constant struggles that each of our people have made before finally overcoming our differences into coming to terms with one another and extending out the hands of friendship. That friendship has set the Milky Way into the new direction of wondering if there are others outside of our own galaxy. The Andromeda Initiative has brought all of our people together and together we traveled to the Andromeda cluster to seek the same answer. Today marks the day that all within the Andromeda Initiative have achieved this glory of discovery into the unknown together. The Andromeda galaxy was already home to the Angaran people and we have them to thank for welcoming us to their abode. Although, we were not alone in the struggle of coexistence; the Angara have faced up to the conflicts in the war with the Kett. In the effort to extend the bonds of friendship to the Angara our two different cultures have come together to stop the Archon and have made Meridian a world to share amongst everyone. I welcome you; Quarians, Batarians, Elcor, Hanar, Vorcha, and Drell home."

Jarun Tann momentarily gaped upon the human Pathfinder with a bewildered look. The Salarian quickly shook his head and faced toward the gathered crowds to inject, "An astounding speech! I couldn't have expected anything less from our hero of Andromeda! Give our hero another applause of gratitude, everyone! Thank you, Pathfinder Scott Ryder!"

The Docking Bay filled with an outcry of acclamation, in the midst of the shouts Director Tann leaned closely toward the human man and lowly spoke, "I'm quite surprised, actually."

Scott returned a snide remark, "What - that I took your spot in the limelight, Director?"

"We have a lot to discuss, Ryder. Meet in my office." The Salarian muttered in annoyance toward Scott's ear. Director Tann gave one last firm stare onto the Pathfinder prior carefully climbing down from the platform and spinning around to start toward the direction of the transit station.

The uproar of cheers gradually faded as Ryder jumped down from the platform and diverted his focus onto the Tempest's crew members. The Pathfinder's group momentarily clapped their hands together to express their own applause.

Gil Brody crossed his arms over his chest and curled the corners of his lips into a wide smirk, "Well done, Ryder! Although, I think you left out the most important part in your speech."

Scott shrugged his shoulders and slyly quipped, "I forgot to include your name into it, Gil?"

The Chief Engineer scoffed, "Pfft, well, yeah! That and how your heroic deeds wouldn't have been made possible without my skills! Need I remind you that I'm the one who fixes the ship to make sure she gets pointed into the right direction?"

"You should put an emphasize on right direction when Ryder is trying to read the galaxy map... Sometimes I wonder if he just points and says; go here, Kallo, it's shiny." Kallo mumbled and rolled his large dark eyes.

Gil praised with an outburst of laughter, "Ha, ha! Good one, Kallo! I give you props for Pathfinder dish-out."

Liam's voice broke into abrupt laughter and raised one of his hands out for a high-five motion. The Salarian pilot quizzically studied Liam's palm and immediately grasped the idea. Kallo outstretched his long hand to exchange the high-five with the crisis-response operative.

Sara exchanged puzzled looks from the Salarian Pilot, to the Chief Engineer, and finally up to her brother.

"Um, this makes me very glad that I wasn't the one dad chose for the Pathfinder job... Anyway, Scott, I'll have to admit that speech was incredible! It was like... dad but not dad.. It was you, Scott. You took his place and made THAT speech.. It's really hard to find the right words to say to give my little brother a compliment..." Sara lowered her head and anxiously looked away.

Lieutenant Harper stood at military attention with her arms behind her back. She motioned a nod of approval and stated respectfully, "Alec Ryder would have been proud, Pathfinder Ryder."

Scott cocked a suspicious look and planted his hands on the sides of his hips.

"Are you guys being serious or is this another prank at the expense of the Pathfinder? I'm starting to get the feeling that you guys want to replace me."

The Tempest's crew swiftly turned into opposite directions and began to disperse.

Peebee piped up gleefully as she passed the human Pathfinder, "You were right, Ryder! Pathfinder Peebee has a nice ring to it." She chuckled and dashed off.

Scott folded his arms over his chest, whirling around to look-follow to the various directions that the Tempest's crew rushed off to. His attention was suddenly distracted by the sound of a male Quarian angrily shouting, "BOSH'TET! We should have killed all of your kind when you were in our stasis pods!" The Pathfinder lowered his arms to his sides and swiftly rushed to trail the sounds of disputing shouts, leading Ryder into the Residential District. He spied the various groups of Batarian, Vorcha, Quarian, and Drell meshed together into brawling matches.

"Ah, shit! Sam! Get Kandros down here! There's a fight breaking out in the Residential District!"

"Acknowledged, Pathfinder. Tiran Kandros and his forces are already on their way to this location." The artificial intelligence calmly replied.

Scott raced forward to dive into the fray, prying a Drell away from a Vorcha, and shouted, "BREAK IT UP!"

The Vorcha wheeled onto the human man and swung one of its arms toward Pathfinder Ryder's direction. Scott stepped back to narrowly avoid a blow to the face but was suddenly sprung upon from the backside as a Batarian grabbed the human from behind and weighed itself onto Scott to drop him front side down to the ground. Scott immediately expelled out all of his air from his lungs from the hard drop and staggered into a choking-coughing fit. The Batarian propped into a sitting position to hold Scott's body pinned against the floor and proceeded to beat the back of his head with its clenched fists.

"DIE, HUMAN!" The Batarian enraged.

Scott tightly closed his eyes as the swarm of darkness began to settle in. The dimly sound of the artificial intelligence's voice softly sounded in the human's ears, 'Unlocking encrypted program file. Initiating program sequence. Warning; adrenaline levels rapidly rising.'

Ryder's conscious thoughts suddenly returned, his eyelids flying wide open, and the rush of fresh air filled his lungs. He quickly planted his hands down and forced himself to roll over, throwing the Batarian off of his backside. Scott's movements were swift as the human man regained into a standing posture and hastily stepped out of the fray to avoid another surprise attack. He turned his head side-to-side looking over the brawling matches between the opposing groups and turned his head into the direction of Nexus security coming into the area with raised weapons.

"THIS IS NEXUS SECURITY! HANDS IN THE AIR! NOW!" Lieutenant Sajax shouted in composed rage. The female Turian raised an assault rifle with both hands and took aim upon one of the Vorcha's limbs.

"FUCK YOU, TURIAN!" A Batarian spat in a berserker state. The Batarian started to rush toward one of the security personnel but suddenly staggered in its movements as a gun blast loudly sounded off. The Batarian dropped down to the ground and clutched both of its hands over the area of its bleeding leg. "F-FUCK!" The Batarian cursed out loud, "YOU FUCKING HUMANS ARE GOING TO PAY! YOU'LL ALL FUCKING PAY FOR THIS!"

Tiran Kandros came up beside the human Pathfinder and shouted, "ENOUGH!" The Turian let a single blank shot pop off to provide distraction between the brawling groups.

The Quarians, with the Drell, hastily backed away while pulling their wounded out of the mess.

One of the Quarians bitterly protested, "It's these bastards fault for killing my sister! I'll never forgive ANY of them! I wish they were left back in the Milky Way to rot!"

"It's YOUR Initiative's fault for not providing an Ark for our people! So, fuck you and your damned Initiative!" A Vorcha hissed between its long teeth.

Kandros pitched his voice over the squabbling, "I SAID THAT'S ENOUGH! I'll shoot every one of you if I have to! Lieutenant, you're in charge of the Quarians and Drell. Get them patched up. My squad will escort the other stubborn pricks to the other side of the Nexus. Sam, have you alerted Tann?"

Sam's voice responded, "Director Tann has been made aware of the situation. I highly advise that the human Pathfinder seek medical attention as soon as possible. Pathfinder Ryder had sustained a momentary concussion. The excessive amounts of adrenaline in his bloodwork have forced the Pathfinder out from the beginning stages of unconsciousness. Doctor T'Perro has been informed and should soon be arriving to this location."

Scott mumbled tiredly, "I'm feeling... dizzy.." He slowly closed his eyes and wobbled in place.

Kandros quickly reacted by gripping his firearm into one hand to catch the stumbling human man in the freed arm.

"Easy, Ryder!"

The Asari doctor raced into the area and exclaimed in worry, "Is Scott alright?! We need a stretcher! Get him to medical!"