The Tempest scanned more planets on their way from Kadara after allowing Sloane Kelly to die by a Collective sniper's round. Everyone agreed with the death of the Outlaw leader, especially knowing that Reyes Vidal let them establish an outpost without needing to pay a cut to the Collective. Jaal particularly relished not having to return to the cursed planet that housed outlaws, traitorous angara and previously enslaved angara.
Relaxing in his cabin, Scott laid next to Lexi after finally spending a night together as a couple. She lay still on his chest, a weight he preferred to bear any day. He stroked her back mindlessly gazing up at the ceiling. " SAM, play soft music,"
A cinematic score played as Scott untangled himself from Lexi's limbs. He slinked off to the shower nude, past a snoring Liam, mouth breathing Cora, and Peebee laying curled up into a ball straight into the shower.
He snapped out his exhaustion long enough to drag himself to the kitchen where Drack laid out on the kitchen seating. Kadara robbed them all of the energy to follow their normal schedules. " Hey, kid?"
Hot coffee poured down Scott's leg. He let out a curse string of curses worthy of recording.
" Think we can take leave on the Nexus before you go after the Nexus? I need to talk to Kesh one last time, just in case it's my last battle,"
Scott yanked the towel around his waist tighter. " I can arrange it,"
" Hey, Kid. Sorry about the burn," Drack and Scott avoided eye contact. He winced when he applied medigel to the burn. Sliding back into bed, he curled up next to Lexi spooning with her until SAM woke him up.
SAM listed every mission that Scott undertook in his journey to make Andromeda safer. The list overwhelmed him and wasted over an hour with reading cover descriptions only. He soon learned that SAM's obsession with understanding human behavior and emotions cumulated into a comprehensive database on himself that Lexi would salivate over.
" SAM, why have you labeled Liam's attempt to steal knowledge on an aya vendor as 'Day Out on Aya'? You know I'm not homosexual, right?"
" It is a day on Aya, correct?" SAM replied smartly.
Scott scowled. " And Architect on Elaaden? You couldn't be more creative?"
" Everyone is a critic," SAM replied.
" Wait. Who taught you that phrase?" He momentarily forgot why he was annoyed with another mission title.
SAM stayed silent. Scott moved on in determination to lecture the A.I. SAM's defiance grew and Sara's influence on the title's leant itself to Lexi immediately. She got a chuckle out of 'Turian Ark: Not Dead Yet' ' Sleeping Dragons' 'Hitting Rocks for Science' and 'Making an Impression'. Even Peebee got in on it with Drack and Jaal. Jaal's interest in it stemmed to the amount of missions Scott executed before Jaal joined their crew.
" You were busy," Jaal counted up the Eos missions. ' Boosting the Signal' ' Defeating the Kett' 'Making an Impression' 'Shock Treatment' ' Something Personnel' 'The Secret Project' " SAM, why are my missions called 'Angaran Affection' and 'Friend or Foe'? There is no humor in that,"
" You are not known for your humor," SAM replied objectively. " Furthermore 'Angaran Affection' refers to your growing trust of Pafhfinder Ryder,"
Everyone lounging in the meeting area blinked and shrugged off the A.I's show of sentimentality. Lexi suspected that SAM's sentience developed with its connection to Scott. Vetra's amusement with everyone's embarrassment and discomfort lead to to her handing the datapad over to Lexi before bouncing for a safer place on the ship. Scott tried to grab it from Lexi, stopped by Cora and Liam.
" This is mutiny!" He gave up the physical struggle as Lexi escaped to the med bay with her treasure datapad of Scott's choices.
Cora let him go and pat him on the back. " Let it go," She warned him gently.
Liam followed her. " Cora, have you picked a movie yet for Movie night?"
Scott straightened out his shirt in extreme irritation. Jaal laughed at Scott's inconvenience. " SAM, you're grounded,"
" Then you are grounding yourself, Scott," SAM's instant reply shut up a fumbled Scott and forced him to focus on the crew that took no part in the unexpected ambush - Suvi and Kallo.
" Thresher Maw 4," Scott answered Liam's question before advancing toward the bridge.
The embassy at Aya received visitors daily giving Ambassador Rialla time to sharpen rusted skills. Her interest in maintaining peace stifled her interest in maintaining truthful communications with Director Tann. Truth was since she woke up and thawed out, everything delivered a gut wrenching motive to not fail. Aya's beauty hid a lot of the people's struggles just to survive, but at least she appreciated the surroundings for the calm they cast over everyone.
Of course it isn't that simple. Evfra's Resistance tracked all of her people. Paranoia kicked her over and over until finally she refused to acknowledge the obstacles directly.
It so happened a day at the market turned into a nightmare that tested her resolve. After being scanned by one of the suspicious scientists, Lessaria Rialla observed a verbal sparring between two angara. Her translator glitched several times in the rapid exchange. She caught the breeze at the right time, closing her eyes and inhaling the mixed flowers and fruit from the market. She opened her eyes to the same two angaran being escorted out by the law enforcers.
" He's right. Your presence here prevents others from living here when it's their right," A helpful and understanding male explained. " Too many of our people die and disappear on any given hour and here you stand,"
Her neutral expression revealed none of her disgust. " I do not understand. I was lead to believe immigration is without restrictions," The shift from volatile to peaceful settled back over the vendors and customers.
" No. It's a crime you bypassed the lottery,"
" It's a lottery?" Well that made sense given the limited residential space and limited food supply. " We were never informed,"
" Then it is an unfortunate reality, but nonetheless you need to be held to the law," Before she formulated a reply to the helpful angaran walked away. She tried to follow him, stopping at the same group that stood around to discuss anything and everything.
Today they decided the topic was Governor Shie. She paced back to the embassy and reviewed all the documentation she is required to track on behalf of the Angara. No lottery form. Not even an exemption form.
She hesitated to contact Tann. She already sensed his own troubles weighing him down. They pulled her out of cryo to fulfill this job. She needed to handle this on her own. She sought out Governor Shie to confirm that what happened in the market is the truth and not someone's method to push the embassy off Aya. Governor Shie informed her that they refused the exact number of individuals that composed the embassy's staff.
" Ambassador, you are pale,"
" Forgive me, I meant no worry. Goddess, if we were informed we replaced valid immigrants-"
" You committed no wrong," The kind governor stopped her from worrying too much. " your alliance to our cause is important. The embassy is a breath of fresh air,"
Breath of fresh air it may e to the hopes of those who still trusted aliens to be friendly but Rialla wanted to remedy the oversight. She emailed Scott of her predicament and let out a deep breath before practicing another optimistic lie to Director Tann. Little did she know that Scott arranged via Sara via Tann for more housing on the Nexus in exchange.
