Scott alllowed his twin to dog his steps. It wasn't that he enjoyed her critical oversight. He owed his relatively clean past to that obsessive protective oversight. She needed to feel useful and protective to feel normal and he wouldn't take that from her. He wouldn't admit to himself that he wanted her to keep looking after him as someone who needed the firm guiding hand. He refused to believe himself that dependent on their bond.
" It's hard to believe all of this," Scott remarked to one of the turians at the Vortex. " When we left home our dreams for a brighter future never predicted any of...this,"
The scourge. The Kett. Not meeting up as planned. Losing all but one Pathfinder ship. Settling a new galaxy shouldn't be this hard.
The turian nodded. " Arriving first...and then waiting for the arks. The uprising…"
Scott tried to understand. " You lost family?"
" My cousin joined the exiles after her mother was kept in cryo,"
" She didn't take part in the uprising?"
" No," The turian shook his head. " When she refused to support the leadership, she was included with the exiles,"
Scott suspected more was left out than shared. Just like his father suppressed memories SAM saved. " Harsh, but have you heard from your cousin?" The bartender kept an ear on the conversation without hint of shame or restraint.
" She's on Kadara. Alive," The turian answered in relief. " My aunt is still in cryo,"
Scott pat him on the back. " You still have family. A small comfort in all of this hostility," The turian agreed and the asari and human bartender offered another drink to the overworked soul. Before Scott left the bar, he collected the name of the turian's cousin in case he reached Kadara before they were able to successfully settle people on Eos again.
He met up with Sara overlooking the Tempest being prepped for take off.
" She's beautiful, isn't she?" Sara said.
Scott leaned on the railing next to her. " Breathtaking. Finish your rounds?"
" For today," She shrugged off his playful jabbing. " Spooked Tann, I think, but he's a wild card right now. My type, just wrong place and time,"
" You say that now," Scott smirked. She barely cracked a smile. " But seriously, any other Salarian-"
" Shut up,"
" Why?" He pushed against her.
She shoved him back. " I'm not looking for a booty call, Scott. You may be, but I'm not. I want something real when all the chaos dies down. Tann may or may not be that person," She relaxed. " Besides I need to focus on honoring Dad,"
He resumed standing still and studying the Pathfinder's ship. A sleek tube with supportive wings and contrasting coloration filled with the latest technology more or less his to use at whim and will. " Just so you know, I never wanted to be the Pathfinder,"
" I know," She shrugged. " You were never one to take to responsibility unless you needed to,"
The mock insulted expression covered Scott's bearded face for a split second before he let his real depression sink in.
" Cora is disappointed she didn't step into the role but she's a soldier. She'll soldier on," Sara assured him even though she didn't fully trust Cora to be 100% loyal to Scott as Pathfinder. Liam Kosta was easier to work with at times, but Cora was more the by the books type of person. They needed that discipline and Kosta's sporadic hope and energy to keep their heads up.
Scott moved closer to Sara and threw his arm around her shoulder. She leaned against him and closed her eyes as the familiar weight of his arm comforted her. " We'll make it through," He promised her in a whisper. She wrapped her arm around his back and squeezed his side. " Hey, no crying now. You know I hate it when you cry,"
She pushed him off of her and stared at the Tempest willing the tears to disappear. She quickly wiped them away with her hand. Scott pretended to not notice and they both stood there is equal silence hoping they could impress their father in days, weeks, months, years to come.
The housing on the Nexus reminded Sara of the housing on the Citadel - boxy, small, and minimalist with built-in furniture. She almost made herself comfortable when the door indicator dinged. Popping up on her feet, she padded across the floor wearing pajamas, a sports bra, and tank top featuring Blasto. " Director Tann," Her cheeks reddened instantly.
" Ryder," He answered. " Sara," He made no move to enter the apartment. " I have an offer for you,"
Of course he did. He was a bureaucrat who needed to make the Nexus a safe hospitable place for people. " Would you life coffee?" She motioned for him to enter.
He shook his head and stayed at the door. " What would you say to staying on the Nexus and working as liason for your brother?"
She blinked. " I'm a trained-"
" I know. Ryder will have ample support with his team,"
Sara's jealousy spiked. She was older and more level headed. " So you want me to handle my brother and make life easier for you?"
Tann nodded.
She shrugged. " I'll start tomorrow,"
Tann decided to step into the apartment and she closed and locked the door behind him. " I read in your file you have extended knowledge of firearms as well as experience with languages-"
Sara made herself a cup of coffee. God help them all when the coffee ran out. A lot of people would start killing each other. " I studied Protheans, Director,"
" Yes, yes. I meant to inquire into your ability to encrypt-"
" My brother was-is a nosy prick," She cut him off and seated herself at the small round table. " Director, I needed to encrypt my journal entries since I was ten, so yes, I am the expert on encryptions and codes and-"
Tann just soaked in her admission without stopping from detailing the full extent of her expertise right down to how people would go to her first for encrypting services instead of paying full price for the professional services. He liked what he heard and before she finished her cup of coffee he hired her not only as liason but also as his security adviser. Seeing as she couldn't take her eyes off him the entire time he stood in her apartment, she saw no harm in spending extended time with him. It may even be beneficial for her mental and emotional health with Scott about take off Eos.
The following morning she waited by Scott's door already dressed for the day and ready to see him off personally. " Hello," He greeted in full spirits. Smelling fresh and prepared for a new adventure, his smile added to his overflowing handsomeness. " Tann snag you?"
" Regrettably," She mumbled before checking her datapad. " At least you're in good hands with Harper and Kosta,"
He put his arm around her shoulder. They walked toward the docks. He guided her as they moved through the tired and potentially mutinous people. " I will faithfully email you every day,"
" You said that before, idiot,"
" I protest,"
" To the idiot part or the truth about you forgetting me to email every day while you were off building your career?"
" N-yes," Scott paused the argument as the Tempest towered over them. He snapped out of it as a female turian introduced herself. Sara lingered near as one of Addison's people tried to stop them from leaving on schedule. Sara's choice mumbling failed to be heard over the people boarding. Saying goodbye had never been Sara's strong suit so she waited until the Tempest shot off into the hopefully brighter future before emailing Scott a list of methods to treat common minor injuries in absence of medigel.
Give Tann Hell. He emailed back quickly.
Reporting to Operations and Tann's closet cubicle, she retrieved the reports from Site 1 and Site 2. If Habitat 7 proved a bust then the other worlds surely were a bust too. She drifted from Security to Tann's closet to Kesh's office as the twelve hour shift dragged on. The reports piled high, so to speak, so she was reasonably engaged and mentally fatigued at the end of the day. The day failed to end there as Tann wanted to discuss Eos with her over some drinks in his apartment.
She waved at the scientists still hard at work before ducking down into the corridor that would lead to the Tram. " Ryder," Kandros caught up with her.
She glanced over at him. " Kandros,"
He radiated positive energy. " I owe you humble gratitude,"
The tram was packed with first shift workers so they waited for the next one.
" You owe me nothing," She insisted in feigned obliviousness. All day people either complained about leadership or praised her brother - except Addison. Addison doubted Scott's ability to get the job done. Addison even doubted her.
Kandros thrummed. " You'll be keeping Tann busy,"
" Oh," She kept watching the door as a small crowd started to form around them.
" And you're keeping him mentally engaged in something other than micromanaging all of us," Kandros whispered. " If you keep that up, we'll all pitch in for a small reward,"
She laughed. " I don't know if you know this...but even as you're handsome and a proper catch for any like minded lady, I happen to prefer Salarians. Working with Tann is a bonus. I have full faith that Cora will be micromanaging and babysitting Scott and to be his eyes and ears here is a reward in of itself. But I thank you for the thought, Kandros,"
The turian didn't know what to make of her reply, nor did the other workers waiting for passage away from their work area. Sara retreated into the happy place that provided her a retreat from the demanding Andromeda galaxy.
