3.

Apprehensive of the possible side effects, Ryder refused to engage his biotics or use jump jets as he walked alongside Vetra through the gates of Kadara's lower port, past Tautarus and onto the lift. It seemed like an impossibly long walk. Each step hyperactive muscles demanded activity. Ryder itched to discharge a lance on someone. But as Pathfinder he needed to retain composure.

The lift jolted to a stop at the upper port triggering an electrical discharge from his fingertips. Adrenaline invigorated him after a battle, but this was incredible. He felt energized. Powerful.

In the main hub, the chaos of the port excited Ryder's senses. People talking, people yelling. The hum of neon lights and the whine of shuttles taking off and landing. Ryder wanted to lose himself in the pandemonium. Become one with the energy. Harness its power and reign it all in. He was sure he could handle it.

He spotted Kralla's Song. "I'm getting a drink while you fetch this manifold Gil wants."

"You sure that's a good idea?"

Vetra sounded worried, but Ryder's back was already turned to her as he waved a hand above his head. "Nope. But when has that ever stopped me before."

"Don't get into any trouble! You're kinda wound pretty tight right now!"

Which is why Kralla's Song is the perfect place for me right now. Ryder waved again before engaging the door to the bar.

Inside Kralla's Song, techno-beats thumped up from the floor into his chest. His heart beat kept cadence. Exhilarated, motivated, Ryder bounded down the main stairs to where Umi waited at the counter.

No preamble. He spoke one word. "Whiskey."

Umi frowned and sighed her response. "I'm only to serve you from Reyes's private reserve. I'll be right back."

When she left, Ryder leaned his back against the bar and surveyed the room. Only fitting for someone of my stature. After all, this place is all the better for meeting me.

When the room didn't provide enough stimulation for his power hungry appetite, his gaze shifted out the window. Varying shades of pinks smeared with stokes of orange decorated the sky outside. Scatterings of stratus clouds added mystery to the vista. Making him wonder how a sky so beautiful could exist over such a dangerous planet. Without warning, that stimulation he'd been searching for presented itself. Two krogan across the room started taunting him with unpleasant words concerning his parentage.

Ryder smiled. "Friends of Sloane's?"

The larger of the two krogan slammed his drink on the ground.

Ryder shook his head. "Umi's not gonna like that. She's gonna make you pay."

The krogan stomped toward Ryder pounding a fist into his other open palm. "And you're not gonna like what I do to you."

The krogan's friend followed behind him flexing his shoulder muscles and grunting. "Sloane kept us fed you stinking pyjak! I had purpose!"

Ryder's skin shimmered with biotic energy. His lips twitched into a crooked smile. "There's only two of you. Why don't you find a friend and we'll make this a fair fight." He flung his right arm forward and unleashed a burst of energy strong enough to throw both krogan back several feet into a wall. To his surprise, the concrete buckled and crumpled on the krogan's impact. He'd made a new window in Umi's bar.

His hands still shimmering with bioelectrical currents ready to discharge, Ryder's eyes widened. "I'm a biotic god."

Two arms engulfed his chest pinning his arms to his sides. The breath-stealing squeeze could only come from a krogan. "So you did have a friend," panted Ryder.

The krogan's clench magnified. "You need to learn respect!"

Ryder's chest constricted. Lack of oxygen to his brain turned his mind fuzzy. He didn't have long before passing out.

Think Ryder! Think! SAM?

No response. His vision dimmed at the edges. Seconds to unconsciousness, he pictured the krogans beating his lifeless form to a pulp.

His vision went black.

Do something! Now!

Ryder balled his hands into fists, expelled all the biotic energy he could muster and released annihilation.

Ryder's lungs expanded instantly, but the oxygen didn't move fast enough to his head. He dropped to the floor in a boneless heap, head spinning and yelling for SAM. Screams and curses filled the air. Something hard and blunt crashed into his abdomen. A krogan boot? Another hit to the torso then his back. The wind rushed out of him; sucking back much needed oxygen moving to his brain until his senses disappeared.

~MEA~

Cool air caressed Ryder's cheeks and neck. Until it stung and a shiver ran down his spine.

Muffled voices chattered near him, triggering his curiosity. He thought he heard his name and opened his eyes to a bright blinding light. He moaned and clamped his eyes shut.

"You're awake."

Vetra? Ryder pried open one eye to see the turian standing over him.

Vetra stood with her arms crossed over her chest. "Umi came into the bar right when you were busy destroying it. She wasn't happy. You're lucky you were unconscious and didn't have to listen to her tirade. But I did. And Ryder, you better have some credits saved, cause she expects you to pay for all the damage… And then some."

"What? When did you…"

"Umi came running out of her bar screaming for help. I was outside and ran back in with her. I got to you before anyone else could beat your lifeless butt… So, you know… you're welcome."

"Where… where am I?"

"Medbay on the Tempest."

"That long?"

"Yeah, you've been out that long."

Doctor T'Perro's head appeared above Ryder. The scowl on her face was enough for him to wish he were still unconscious. "I'm going to restrain myself from giving you another lecture on how not to get yourself killed. And instead, calmly ask how are your feeling?"

SAM? Still no voice. Dammit. Ryder lifted an arm from the bed to rub his aching head, but the limb was heavy, he couldn't move it an inch. "I can't move."

Lexi held up a long needle-tipped injector. "You may be awake, but you're still sedated. I gave you thyroxigen. It subdues your biotics. And for extra precaution, Vetra shackled you to the bed."

"You were out of control, Ryder," said Vetra. "Ever since that explosion at the rooming house, your biotics have been running amok. You almost caused a singularity in medbay when we brought you in here. And you were still unconscious at the time."

Ryder looked down his right arm then the other. Padded leather straps tied him to the bed at the wrists. He flexed his hands then clenched them tight. "I can still feel my biotics wanting to activate."

Lexi neared the injector to his neck where the main biotic implant lay beneath the skin. "Do you need more sedative?"

"No!" Ryder swallowed, drew a deep breath, which sent a sharp pain across his chest. He clamped down a reaction by clenching his jaw until the pain subsided. "I'm fine. I can control it."

"You sure?" asked Lexi. Ryder nodded his heavy head and Lexi stood back.

So many thoughts ran through Ryder's head. Why do I hurt so much? Why have my biotics gone berserk? How am I going to pay for Umi's bar? But what came out of his mouth was, "Did you get the T-8 manifold?"

Vetra's mandibles fluttered. "I was gone for five minutes before I had to help you out! I never had the chance."

"Gil will be mad," replied Ryder.

"I'm mad!"

The door to medbay opened and Suvi rushed in carrying a small case in her hand. "I've got the sample." She paused at the end of the bed. "Oh, Pathfinder, you're awake. It's good to see you. You gave us all quite the scare."

Ryder smiled. Suvi was a cute little thing, sharp as a whip with a sense of curiosity that could kill a herd of cats. And it probably would if she continued to lick rocks. If his interests weren't directed toward a certain hyperactive asari, he'd be heartbroken Suvi preferred women. "Hi Suvi. What sample?"

"Oh yes, this." Suvi held up the case. "I went to Charybdis Point with Jaal to collect samples of the substance wreaking havoc on your biotics."

T'Perro took the case, withdrew several vials and slid behind one of her medical contraptions.

"Your first away mission," said Ryder. Suvi's mouth turned down at the edges. Ryder frowned. "What'd I say?"

Vetra turned her head and coughed out an answer. "Meridian… ahem. We were all there."

Oh crap. "I mean, your second away mission."

Suvi smiled. "It's all right, Pathfinder. Your brain's a little wonky right now."

"I'd say it is," stated T'Perro. She stood beside the bed, leaned over and shone a light in Ryder's eyes. Ryder squirmed until she held his chin tight in her hand. "Hold still."

"What is it?" asked Vetra. "Everything okay?"

T'Perro stood back, crossed her arms over her chest. "In time, yes. But there is no way to predict how long the effects will last. It depends on how much minigen X3 he inhaled."

"Minigen X3!" Vetra let out a long whistle. "Boy howdy."

"And then some," added T'Perro.

Ryder's eyes went wide. He gulped before asking, "What's that?"

…to be continued…