Summary:

Cora prepares for... something

She'd gone back to the barracks, nearly oblivious to those around her. Unsurprisingly, she hadn't passed another human. She didn't remember much actually, but since humans were very much a minority on the Nexus lately, she thought she would have noticed.

But everyone she passed had noticed she was human, and some of those had recognized her. She'd received a few sour looks. Her flippant responses to Sarissa notwithstanding, most people couldn't understand why a member of a pathfinder team wasn't out... pathfinding.

Add to that the fact that Meridian had become the de facto human colony in Andromeda. The other races were swiftly losing patience with humanity's seemingly neverending good fortune. This was despite Dunn, Addison, and others doing everything they could to reassure their fellow settlers that there were plenty of technology and resources to go around. If it weren't for Dawn and her team...

Cora pressed her forehead against her locker door. Kett she could handle, but now she felt more stressed than since she'd left the Milky way. Politics aside, it was her feelings she couldn't get under control. The cool surface was doing nothing to help calm her. She was certain her skin was still flushed, and she could feel her pulse fluttering in her neck.

'Stupid. Stupid.'

Thank goodness the barracks were empty. The last thing she needed was an audience to her shame and embarrassment.

'I can't think of a better first date.'

What the fuck had she been thinking?

'Your emotions are out of control, Cora. You're going to get hurt.'

That was goddess-blessed Sarissa Theris she'd been so easily casual with. She'd flirted there at the end! Even if Sarissa had been lightly reciprocating, She knew it had to have been in the spirit of a matron guiding a maiden. Cora had obviously had her confidence shaken. As a commander, and a matron, Sarissa had apparently taken it upon herself to attempt to assist Cora in regaining her footing. It was the chance of a lifetime, really. Sarissa Theris had taken a personal interest in her, despite what she'd done, and how she'd treated her. It demonstrated what an exceptional individual the asari pathfinder truly was.

And Cora had acted the fool. Thank the goddess Sarissa hadn't seen the passage she'd highlighted in Light From the Shadows. "What is most beautiful is often most deadly."

No, Sarissa definitely didn't need to know the regard in which she held her.

And now she'd committed to going to Eos with the same person she'd embarrassed herself in front of so completely. What was happening to her? She should have stayed on Meridian and done her damn job, instead of heading to the Nexus to play some pathetic game of 'please notice me' with the object of her hero worship.

But Sarissa had noticed, and just the memory made her tingle all over.

She straightened up, adjusting her uniform as she did so. 'I am a Daughter of Talein,' she reminded herself. The mantra brought her the calm it always did.

She started emptying the contents of her locker into her transit bag. She traveled light, and she'd be charged storage on anything she left behind anyway. Sarissa had been vague about her plans, other than expressing a desire to leave before the end of the day.

The sound of the door opening pulled her from her thoughts.

"Cora!" The call echoed across the empty barracks.

She turned as she rose, recognizing the asari striding resolutely towards her.

"Vederia? What are you doing-"

"I came to check up on you. Pathfinder says you're on the next mission." She answered as she approached.

'Mission?' Thought Cora. "Yes, she invited me to Eos. She seemed to think I might be able to help out."

Vederia slowly started walking around Cora, looking her up and down. "Help is good. You're not as fragile as most humans. Hopefully that means you won't slow us down."

Cora bristled. "I know how to shoot, and I know how to duck, if that's what you mean. You've seen what I can do with my biotics."

"Yes, yes. We all know that you can do with your biotics." Vederia pursed her lips as she circled.

"I was trained by asari!"

Vederia paused, calmly meeting Cora's glare. "Right. Talein's Daughters. There are many who wouldn't consider that an object of pride."

"The Daughters are one of the most decorated units in the Republics!"

"As well as one of the most reckless. Not every problem can be solved by shooting at it."

"Tell that to Nisira," muttered Cora under her breath.

"I have. I was at Ailanthus."

"Oh, I bet she took that well."

A smile for that. "She did, actually. That was what, two hundred years ago? I hadn't been a commando for a century yet. She thought I was funny."

"There are worse things she can think of someone." Cora kept her responses understated.

"No doubt."

"Is this going to be a problem? I really do just want to help here."

"You tell me, Lieutenant. Is it?"

Cora straightened slightly. "I prefer huntress."

Vederia nodded. "Good. That's what Sarissa said as well, but I wondered if you'd have the quad to tell me yourself."

"I can speak for myself, plirotís," answered Cora, addressing Vederia by her role as second to the pathfinder.

"I am plirotís," she confirmed. "As are you. Hence my 'problem'. Why are you following my pathfinder? Why not your own? Is there not enough glory to be had with Ryder? Are her enemies too weak for your taste? Her battles not challenging enough?"

"You know that's not the case."

"Yes. I do. So I ask again, why are you here?"

"Ryder doesn't need me. She's got a strong team, and right now Tann and Addison have her focused on Meridian."

"And you prefer to be needed."

"I like to feel useful, yes."

"Sarissa already has a plirotís. Do you think I would give up the role so easily?"

"I'm no threat to you Vederia, I don't want your job, and I don't need it to help Sarissa anyway."

"You're already a distraction to Sarissa. The team will find you so as well."

"What? How?" Cora was incredulous.

"It's just us now, Cora. Sarissa and I. We're all that remains of the original pathfinder team. We're all who survived the kett attacks on the Leusinia."

"Sarissa told me."

"Sarissa told you. Because Sarissa talks to you often. She used to spend her time in drills, training for whatever duty might bring. But once we reached the Nexus, she started spending more of her time in Pathfinder Hall, knowing you would come there when the Tempest was docked."

"It's a good place to clear your head. I don't like crowds."

"And now that you spend your time in the asari enclave of the Nexus, she does as well."

"What are you saying?"

"Our team consists almost entirely of fresh recruits, mostly maidens. Babies, really. I doubt there is five hundred years of experience between them."

"And?"

"And Sarissa is a celebrity to them. And lately she's been captivating them with stories of the human huntress. The commando with biotic skills which rival her own. The woman who shot the Valiant, and along with Sarissa herself, held the barrier that saved the Leusinia. She's turned you into a hero. In a few centuries, you'll be a myth."

Cora grinned. "It can't be all that bad."

"It can. It is. I need to be able to maintain discipline in a squad that will be looking at one of the thrise dammed Talein's Daughters for lessons on how to behave in battle. The kind of recklessness they're known for is doing to get my team killed!"

Cora stepped forward, closing what little distance existed between her and the asari. Putting a hand on her shoulder. "I understand your concerns. You don't need to worry about me. First, I'm not trying to take your place. Second, I spent more time in the Alliance than I did with the Daughters. I may consider myself a Daughter, but I understand discipline. Finally, If there is anything I can do to help with this, tell me. Otherwise, I'm not looking to join the asari pathfinder team. I'll fight with you, but I'm just here for Sarissa."

"For Sarissa."

"Yes."

"To help her."

"Yes."

"Fine." Vederia hesitated but seemed ready to move on to other things. She looked at the bag by Cora's feet. "No gear?"

Cora stepped back as she shrugged. "Haven't been in action. My armor's in my quarters on the Hyperion, and most of my weapons are on the Tempest. Officially I'm on detached duty, and most of what I've been doing is helping liase between Addison and the Hyperion. Almost entirely desk work, although Ryder has asked me to give Kandros a hand from time to time."

A nod in return. "No gear then," Vederia reiterated as she dismissed Cora's other responsibilities as inconsequential. "Sarissa's not going to want a detour to Meridian, and honestly there's no need. We'll outfit you here. When we're done, head over to the quartermaster on the Leusinia." Vederia activated her omni-tool and tapped out a message. "She'll issue you armor, weapons, whatever you require."

"Leathers?"

"If you desire. We'll have plenty of room. It's just going to be the three of us and the shuttle pilot."

"Oh. Right. Shuttles."

"The Ishara is almost complete. This should be the last time we deploy by shuttle."

"CCouldn't you have named your new pathfinder ship Dilinaga II or something? Calling it Ishara seems like it would be cruel to Sarissa."

"She chose the name herself, 'As a reminder,' she said."

"Of course she did." A tidbit to remember for later. "When do we head out?"

"Sarissa has given instruction that we depart as soon as you're ready."

Cora nodded. "OK. I'll go procure some gear and head to the shuttle bay on the Leusinia."

Vederia turned to leave, Cora watching her go until the barracks door closed behind her.

Cora gave a slow count to ten before sliding her bag over her shoulder.

She had no idea what she was getting herself into. For once, she didn't care.