They stood in an office in the operations area that would be home to the Angaran delegation. Sara rested on her crutch while Prad and Jaal sized it up. " If any -"
" Don't go too far," Jaal motioned her to sit down at the desk and chair. " We'll need to discuss what you relayed to Evfra,"
" You mean Viraan?"
" Yes," Prad answered for Jaal.
Sara lowered her gaze to the floor, thoroughly embarassed. " She was a comrade. Comrades stick together. Besides from what I read she's going to gut the prick,"
" What is a 'prick'?" Prad asked as he videoed the office for Evfra. " Is it where you cut yourself because if that is the situation, he is not a prick. He is a gaping wound," And by he, they meant Haddon. Viraan confirmed that Saen died before the real attack started on the daar.
She laughed. " Well, Viraan promised to ensure they endanger no one else,"
The two men faced her. " Were you interested in joining the Resistance?"
" No," Flattered as she was, the answer never would change. " Not in the soldier aspect. I learned that Scott is the soldier, not me. I can shoot and kill, but soldiering? Nah," She smiled at them both. " I'll work with Evfra though. He's capable, tough, and straight forward. I can deal with assholes. Evfra is just another version of my father. Before Mom,"
" Your mother was a special woman," Prad assumed for all to hear.
Sara pointed at her eyes then back at one of the former Eos colonists from the first two attempts. They defiantly observed across the way. " Almost like the Moshae. Obviously she never saved an entire race, but if it weren't for Mom, blood would be the only thing that connected us. Mom's dead. Dad's dead. Scott almost died. I almost died. All I want is a world where dieing of old age is common,"
A gentle knock at the framing turned their heads. Kandros lounged almost like he was modeling. " Welcome to the Nexus,"
" The cultural center is a wonder," Jaal gushed without hesitation. " I wish we could boast of the same monuments ourselves,"
Sara hardly considered a few holographic pedestals and voice explained history monuments, but given the perspective, the angara lost a lot of their history to the kett and the scourge. If it weren't for the folk tales and gritty folk, there may not be any angara left. Sara glanced at Prad, then Kandros. She had a problem with finding someone, or maybe she just wanted something impossible. Either way she needed to figure it out and be happy. " Hey, Prad, you want to catch some drinks my place?"
" Oh do you have strong drinks? I'd prefer you stick a non-alcoholic drink if you don't want to forget," Prad moved to her side before she could even ready her own crutches.
She poked his leg with her crutch. " Just becausse I was black out drunk doesn't mean I didn't want to. I wanted a lot, but we have reputations to worry about," Kandros's uplifted grin hinted at his own approval of Prad. Good. She preferred to have his approval.
" I understand," Prad slung his pack over his shoulder. " I just wanted to be clear,"
She rolled her eyes. " Kandros, Prad, Prad, Kandros,"
The two men nodded to each other. Jaal laughed. " They don't know?" He demanded of Sara in much amusement.
" I told Kandros everything, Jaal. We're friends first, associates second. Besides with everything transpiring lately, I need drinks. So if you want to talk about it, follow me,"
Prad followed her while Jaal stayed back with Kandros. " You are upset," She dared to answer him truthfully. " I'm sorry," He tried to comfort her.
She shrugged off his heartfeld attempt. " Why? It was never going to work anyway. I'm not mad. Just disappointed," More in herself than the rest of the world. If she could just figure it out and not leave a string of men in her wake the world wouldn't refer to her as less than her twin.
He put his arm around her waist and hugged her from behind. Sara relaxed. One of Leandra's spies disappeared from sight, content to know that Kandros wasn't going to be sneaking off to Sara again. " What can I do to help?"
" Drink with me," She leaned back into him. " At least one or two,"
One or two short drinks turned into a short tour of the living quarters. Prad soaked up the bare surroundings in silent appreciation of her few momentos and attention to cleanliness. He noted her articularly arranged wardrobe with some interest. " Interesting," His head swiveled and landed on her shower area.
She came up behind him and hugged him. He stiffened under skin to skin contact and relaxed the longer she held him like that.
" Do you want to talk?" He asked asked again.
Her fingers clenched around his waist. She blinked rapidly away unexpected tears. " I failed someone, and I don't want to fail anyone else again,"
Prad sensed that she spoke of more than vague words. More than Tann. More than losing her father. He pried her arms away and turned to face her. " Would you like to shower and rest?"
" No," Her voice cracked. Prad's instincts raised. " I want to help you set up the embassy. Are you providing your own furniture and decorations or do I need to talk to Tann?"
His hands wrapped around hers. " I thought you and Evfra cleared the details?" He pressed his forehead to hers.
She closed her eyes and forced herself to bask in the moment. It soothed a tired soul. " No," Prad would have to be the pretty lie she embraced until Prad decided to leave her. " But that's fine. I'll talk to Tann and Kesh will be expecting help or is Evfra hoping I'll help you get close to Tann?"
" Likely the others will follow in days to come," Prad admitted. " We have the laws already forwarded to your Director, and if you need curency-"
Sara put a hand over his arm. " I adore you, Prad," The knock at the door stopped her from admitting too much. " It's open," She called out.
The doors parted to reveal Scott ducking away from someone. He hurried to lock it behind him.
" You were saying?" Prad nudged Sara.
She looked up at him. " I'll make sure we have the embassy set up in less than two days," Her promise disappointed Prad. " Scott, who are you dodging now?" She started to brew coffee for them expecting him to stay a while.
" I have a fan following, and the ladies are especially determined," Scott replied. " I can go-"
Prad seated himself on the small couch. " Unnecessary,"
" Completely," Sara turned her back to the coffee pot and crossed her arms. " Tann unceremoniously dumped me on Harry's urging. Kandros is in a relationship with another turian. I'm certain half the station is calling me names I will not repeat,"
" But why? You are lovely and kind and brave," Prad cringed at the disappointment contorting her pretty face and blooming heart.
Both twins faced him. Scott explained the societal standards and Sara exposed her long list of conquests that dated back to the Milky Way. Prad walked right up to Sara and put his hands on her cheeks. He looked her in the eye and spoke softly.
" Love of body and love of heart do not need to be exclusive or inclusive. You are a lovely person worthy of a true love. We all are,"
Sara's composure slipped before her annoyed expression reinstituted itself. Scott and Prad sat down on the couch for a game of dice while Sara poured Coffee for three and watched them play. She lead a strange, strange life, and one day she would figure it out.
All Sara thought about were blue babies crawling over the floor with Scott yelling at them not to climb. To not spill the milk. To pick up their toys. To stop crying and then apologize and cuddle them immediately. Maybe Lexi watched it all with an amused smile. Maybe she scolded Scott. What Sara wouldn't give for a day like that to come! To just relax and worry if your relatives are embarassing.
She looked up at Scott's poking. " You alright?"
" I'm fine," Sara lied. " Just tired and dusty,"
" You can travel with me once the leg is healed,"
" No. I'm...I'm going to wait until this 'archon' is put in his place. Preferably sooner than later," Sara rubbed her brow. " Being shot at nearly killed, I gained perspective. I like exploring with minimal risks," Not being targeted by Kett would be a nice change.
Prad listened intently, remembering this for his own purposes rather than Evfra's intel gathering.
Scott handed her the dice. " I have to track down Keri T'vessa. She wanted another interview," He put his cup in the sink and unlocked the door.
" Do you know where you'll be living while on the Nexus?" Sara cleared her throat and fingered the cup in her hands. " Do you have any experience being an ambassadorial headache?"
He cracked a smile. " No,"
" A sniper that is an ambassador,"
" An archaeologist that is an ambassador,"
" Not anymore," Sara sipped her tea. " Now I'm just Sara,"
Prad tested the coffee and stomached it without complaint. " Who is working with the Resistance leader,"
" As long as I'm not called Shena," Scott introduced her to Reyes Vidal via information from the team's encounters on Kadara. " Like I said, Evfra is a respectable man. The fact he's an asshole is unfortunate,"
" Will the tired and dusty Sara show me to my room?" Prad asked of her. She finished her coffee and grabbed her crutches. They talked about Evfra's expectations for the embassy and Sara's expectations of working with Evfra via long distance. She talked to Tann as they hobbled along, taking directions. " Well look at you! How generous of Tann to put you up in one of the living spaces meant for the previous leaders,"
The living area sprawled out over a larger foot print than Sara's and boasted of no personal touches. Prad set his pack down and walked through the space. Sara silently let herself out before she was tempted to stay. Prad turned to ask her something and discovered her gone. He let himself relax and dwell in the peace.
Tann waited for Sara at her apartment. She checked to see whether she locked it on her way out but Tann answered that before she opened her mouth. " I let myself in. Couldn't think with Kandros and Addison and Kesh demanding compromises and bodies and resources we don't have," Sara cleaned the coffee cups and washed her hands.
The sound of his pacing stopped. Sara turned around and hobbled over to the table. Tann pulled her chair out and offered a hand to her. She placed her hand in his and lowered into the chair.
" And don't tell me to wake more people up. Kesh already said we're having trouble keeping our people fed and alive,"
" If they keep killing each other, soon it won't even matter," Sara said in resignation. " Have a seat. Not like I'm running away,"
He put himself close to her. " You are my eyes and ears and Evfra de Tershaav specifically demanded liason,"
" Not by my choice but there are worse people to work with. Like Addison," Tann lowered his head and lips pursed. Sara rubbed his shoulder in consolation. " Don't worry. If I kill Evfra, you'll be the first person I tell,"
Tann relaxed under her hands. Sara soon learned about the rest of the troubles that drove him to her living quarters.
