Ryder

"I don't want to hear it, Kosta." Ryder scolded Liam as they climbed out of the nomad in the Tempest cargo bay. Liam just held his hands up in surrender before turning towards the lockers to remove his armor. Jaal walked up the Ryder and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"If you want to talk, I am here," he told her before walking off towards the crew quarters. Ryder sighed and walked to her locker, roughly taking off her armor and damn-near throwing it inside. Liam was staring at her wide-eyed. Ryder held up her finger, clad only in her under armor.

"Not a fucking word," she reminded him and stormed off towards her personal quarters. She didn't want to hear it from any of her crew. Most of them had warned her about Reyes, claiming to have a 'feeling' or suspect something. She had ignored all their warnings and now it seemed it was biting her in the ass, or well, the heart.

Once Ryder heard the soft hiss of the door close behind her in her quarters, she sank to her knees on the floor, tears welling up in her eyes. She couldn't believe that she'd let this happen. For the first time since her teenage years, she let a man get close enough for her to fall for him. I really can pick 'em, huh? Ryder wiped the tears from her eyes before they could fall and stood up, pulling off her under armor. She quickly changed into pants and her favorite hoodie before climbing under the covers. She lay still, staring at the ceiling for what felt like hours.

'Ryder, you have new email' SAM relayed on her private channel. Ryder knew who it would be before she opened her email. Reyes.

'Ryder,

I wanted you to know that I never meant to hurt you. I promise. Come see me at Tartarus before you leave Kadara. Please.

-Reyes'

Ryder sighed, contemplating going. There was so much going on in Andromeda; she had to put her personal life aside. She bit her lip gently before opening the comm with Kallo. "Set a course for Elaaden."

"Right away, Ryder," Kallo cheerfully responded before Ryder heard to comm click off. She could feel the Tempest coming alive underneath her. Rolling over, Ryder closed her eyes, attempting to get some reprieve from her emotional torment before she had to take on conflicts with the Krogan.

Reyes

Reyes threw back his glass, downing it in 2 large gulps. Ryder had left Kadara without so much as a reply to the email. He'd fucked up, and he knew it. When his agent informed him of the Tempest's departure, he nearly threw his drink at the wall. Part of him wanted to hop on a shuttle and look for the Tempest. It would be a waste, though. There is no way he'd know where to look for her, she had missions to complete on all habitable planets.

Reyes grabbed the bottle of whiskey that he'd taken from Sloane's storage room when they'd taken over Outcast headquarters. It was the same brand that he and Ryder had shared the night they first kissed. He took a swig and leaned back on the couch, closing his eyes and replayed the events of that night in his head. Everything had been perfect. Reyes inhaled, remembering the scent of vanilla and rose buds that Ryder had worn. She had fit so perfectly in his arms. The image of her laying in his bed came to mind. Her hugging his pillow, her t-shirt riding up. She had looked beautiful. That was the moment that Reyes knew he'd never be the same, that he loved Ryder.

I have to get her back.

Ryder

She had been avoiding the return to Kadara Port. 100% viability had been reached on all other habitable planets, with outposts included. Kadara had been put on the back burner so that Ryder to avoid Reyes. She knew she couldn't avoid him forever, but it doesn't mean she wouldn't try.

Two months had passed since everything had gone down. In that time, Reyes had sent multiple messages to Ryder attempting to explain his reasons for lying. He had stated he feared that he'd lose her, and that had happened. The one thing that killed Ryder was that she still loved him. Even with all the hurt he had caused, and the trust issues, she still wanted him.

"ETA to Kadara at 10 minutes," Kallo announced over the comms.

"Thank you," Ryder replied before going to the mirror to look at herself. Dark circles had made their home under her eyes. The cut on the side of her forehead was finally beginning to heal after retrieving that seed vault from the exiles. Her shields had gone down temporarily and a bullet grazed right by her head when she hadn't found cover fast enough. Bled like a bitch until Lexi was able to patch it up.

Upon making it to the bridge, Ryder found Liam waiting, watching the Tempest descend into Kadara Port.

"Do you want me to come along, Pathfinder?" Liam asked. Ryder shook her head. Liam had been a great friend since they left Kadara. She had feared that he would say 'I told you so', but he hadn't. He had let her vent and never judged her. It was exactly what she had needed.

When the cargo bay doors opened to the port, the first thing Ryder noticed was that the smell had subsided immensely. The high levels of sulfur previously had made the place smell of rotten eggs and vomit. Now only a faint hint of rotten eggs lingered. I'll never get used to this smell.

Ryder made her way to the former Outcast headquarters. She needed to get an outpost put on Kadara. In one of the emails, Reyes had stated that an outpost could be placed on Kadara. Ryder was hoping that offer still stood. The Collective guards were positioned at the door and they immediately allowed her entrance to the headquarters. When the door to the 'throne room' opened, she was pleasantly surprised to find Keema Dorghun sitting in Sloane's throne. She smiled at the Angaran, continuing her approach.

"Ryder, it's so good to finally see you," Keema said pleasantly. "What brings you here?"

"I wanted to discuss an alliance between the Collective and the Initiative. I'd like to put an outpost here on Kadara." Ryder hoped that she could make this transaction happen without Reyes.

"You'll have to take that up with the Charlatan yourself."

"So I assume you know who the Charlatan really is?" Ryder questioned, curious to see how much Keeema knew.

"Yes, I am one of few," she said, shifting in her chair. "I told him to tell you the truth, but he said he was afraid you'd write him off. It was cute, really," Keema recounted. Ryder just frowned.

"Where can I find him?"

"Same place as always," Keema informed her. Tartarus. Great, a trip to the slums.

"I better get going," Ryder said and began to retreat before she heard Keema speak.

"Ryder, just listen to what he has to say. He's been a mess since you left," Keema informed her. Ryder glanced back at Keema and sighed before nodding and heading toward the slums. She knew she'd have to face Reyes eventually, she might as well get it out of the way now.