Kadara: Kurinth's Valley
"Ryder, the signal is coming from up ahead," SAM chirped in her ear across all coms. Ryder nodded. A little habit, she couldn't seem to break. SAM wasn't in front of her, but he sounded as if he could be.
SAM, she called on their private channel.
Yes, Pathfinder, the AI answered.
Possibility this is a trap? Ryder asked, she a bad feeling. She had expressed her concerns to Reyes.
His hand rubbed the back of his neck. "I can't think that it isn't a trap, Ryder, but I don't have a choice." His eyes looked askance at her. "I don't have anyone I trust."
Ryder blinked, "Did you just admit you trusted me?" She teased sweetly. Reyes worried and tense wasn't something she knew how to handle, yet. He was always cool and composed. Now, he was paced and worried. They were alone in his private room in Tartarus.
Reyes turned to look at her a sly smile painted on his lips. "You know, I do." His eyes assessed, her, shifting up and down once before softening. There was a question lingering there. A question that Ryder turned away from in uncomfortable silence. She wasn't ready for the answer herself. Reyes' hand on her upper arm turned her gently back to him. "Danica," Her first name wasn't used by many anymore. Mostly Cora used it when she was flustered and flummoxed with Ryder's decisions. Reyes spoke her name like a solemn promise.
"You know this could easily be a trap?" She stated as Reyes stepped closer, placing his other hand on her other arm.
"I know," he whispered, pulling her closer. Tension radiated from him. "I wouldn't ask if I didn't think you could handle it," His thumbs caressed her arms.
Ryder laughed mellifluously, "I bet that sultry tone and look makes people just melt, doesn't it?" She risked at glance at his face. He still smiled, but it wasn't a sly grin. It was genuine, dimpling his cheeks.
"For you, I hope it is more than melt,"
She rolled her eyes, reaching up to place her hands over each of his. Ryder gently pulled them away from her. "Still me walking into a potential trap," She winked at him, "This better come with a big pay off,"
"RYDER!"
Cora's warning shout caused Ryder to the jerk the wheel and slam on the brakes.
"Radars and sensor are going crazy," Liam yelled, "Someone hit us an ion pulse of some kind."
A wave of dizziness along with goosebumps broke out over Ryder's arms.
"SAM, status!" Ryder commanded. Her stomach clenched.
"The Nomad seems to have been hit with a pulse of some kind much like Liam described. A singular concentrated pulse, Pathfinder." SAM replied.
"Liam, get our systems back up. "
"Something is inferring with my implant," Cora stated sharply.
"Mine too," Ryder nodded. Her head swam. "What could…?"
"Got it!" Liam's hands moved over the screens, his fingers flirting with the controls. "Came from up…shit! Incoming!"
A strange painful wave of invisible pressure flowed over them. Ryder gritted her teeth. "Shit,"
The instruments beeped and buzzed, the radar and controls sparked. The lights flickered, then went dark.
Liam moved placing his helmet on his head. "Power's gone. Every things offline. Coms are jammed."
Cora groaned and shook her head, "What the hell is that?"
SAM, you still there? Ryder asked though she already knew the answer.
Yes, Pathfinder, SAM replied.
Good, get at message out to Reyes. Tell him, I think I found our murderer. Make certain he gets the coordinates too. Tell him to bring backup. Ryder's vision was going dark around the edges. Her implant was warm, not hot just unpleasantly warm. Ryder and Cora might risk using their biotics, but they would run the risk of burn out or overloading their amplifiers. Ryder looked at her second. Cora didn't look good. Her pale skin was paler and sweat beaded on her forehead. Her eyes flashed dangerously as she stared back at Ryder.
Ryder nodded," Everyone get ready, this is going to hurt,"