Ryder stood at the front of the Tempest's control room, standing still as the Galaxy Map's platform elevated itself, activating the vast display of Heleus. It had been months since her father's death and the Hyperion's docking at the Nexus, and a small part of Ryder had let go of the idea of calling a planet home. Now, it was the Tempest that felt most comfortable to her. It wasn't a very large ship, not compared to some of the N7 ones in the Milky Way galaxy, but it was big enough. Her crew seemed to have made the ship as much of a home as she had, and she wondered if they too had resigned themselves - either consciously or subconsciously - to simply being explorers and pathfinders.
After all, even once the outposts were settled and the Kett defeated, it stood to reason they would continue to encounter enemies. It was a fool's dream to expect life would ever move forward without some kind of conflict. If nothing else, mankind's messy and bloody history was evidence of that.
"Ryder?"
Kallo's voice held uncertainty, as if he was questioning whether or not he should be interrupting her thoughts.
"Hmm?" She turned to look at him, his large eyes blinking rapidly.
"Not to make it sound urgent, but do you have our heading?"
Ryder bit the inside of her lip and murmured a 'sorry' before turning back to the Galaxy map. They could return to EOS and check in on Prodromos, then take out more Kett. Her eyes darted across the map, SAM's notes on what needed to be done where popping up across them. So many tasks completed, and so many more yet to be accomplished. All of the Nexus was relying on her to help them with everything, and despite proving herself many times to the Angarans, she was still wrestling to earn their trust.
Her eyes flicked to the Govorkam system, host to Kadara Port. Although she and her crew didn't need to rush to speak with the Angaran traitor, there was an allure to the destination that pulled her towards it. Ryder's life had been one filled with structure, with rules, and with laws. There was little room for acting outside the box, and though she had an impulsive edge, she only ever pushed the line, never crossing it.
But on a planet filled with pirates and smugglers? The line she had followed her whole life didn't exist there, and she was curious. What would a world without organized government - without the law - look like? A chill of excitement ran down her spine. Even if the world was a mess and everything ended in one big firefight, the thought of going there made her blood tingle in excitement. There was no real requirement for her to follow a strict set of rules out here - as Pathfinder, didn't she technically make the rules? She knew, of course, that she would never go too far outside the lines, but here, there was no box. She had the freedom, especially on Kadara, to explore something outside of the black and white of the Alliance.
She closed the map and glanced over at Kallo, who was still awaiting her response.
"Kadara. Take us to Kadara."
Kallo nodded and pushed the ship into motion, an action that caused no disturbance to those inside the ship.
Ryder had to admit, Kallo and his team were more than efficient in the construction of the Tempest. It ran like a dream, smooth and flawless, soaring through space like a knife slicing through soft butter. Save for the hum of the equipment on the bridge and the stars soaring past, one wouldn't even know they were on a moving vessel.
She chewed on the inside of her lip for a moment, a developed habit she would do whenever deep in thought, then activated her omni-tool and turned on the comm.
"We've just set course for Kadara, and should be there in about two hours. If you want to get some time off-ship, take it while you can, but please be ready in case we need anything."
Drack's grunt could be heard over the system. "Vetra and I have some ...business… at the port. We'll take care of it upon arrival."
"Strictly legal business," Vetra added. It was impossible to miss the hint of amusement in her voice.
SAM cut in before anyone else could reply. "Pathfinder, it would be important to note that Kadara Port has a ban on all guns and weaponry. Only members of the Outcasts, Kadara's ruling faction, are allowed to carry weapons."
"Great," Ryder muttered. She closed her eyes, leaning back her head and letting out a deep breath. Being without her equipment wasn't how she had hoped to enter a place ruled by exiles. But, it wasn't like she had much of a choice. Whether they took on Kadara now, or later, that ban would still be in place.
"I would also advise against any member of the Pathfinder team wearing armour, as it would be better to attempt to blend in with the pirates and exiles."
A loud, hysterical laugh broke out over the comm system while simultaneously carrying from the escape pod off the bridge. "You realize you're talking about Ryder here, right? She screams military from a mile away. You could put her in a vorcha costume and they would still be able to see her."
"Like hell I'm leaving my armour behind," Drack growled. "Someone has to be ready to protect Ryder - she's too squishy."
"Drack," scolded Lexi, "You're not as indomitable as you once were. You need to be careful too."
Drack chuckled in response, followed by an exasperated sigh from Lexi. Ryder fought to hide her amusement at the discussion, certain she was failing as a smile tugged at the edge of her mouth. Good thing none of them could see her expression as she gazed out over the galaxy map.
"We're not strictly Nexus, anyway," Vetra chimed in. "A Krogan merc and a Turian smu...trader… shouldn't seem to out of the ordinary."
Ryder raised her eyebrow and chuckled. Vetra was technically Nexus, but her "legal" side gigs and refusal to wear anything provided by the Nexus would be an asset on this new port at least. Smiling to herself, she turned and strode off the platform, glancing quickly at Kallo and then Suvi.
"Do either of you need anything on Kadara?"
Suvi looked over and smiled. "I appreciate it Ryder, but I have all I need for now. I think I'll be staying on ship during our wee visit. I'm not sure I want to risk running into any of these pirates or gangs - I stand out like a sore thumb."
Ryder nodded in understanding. "Just, promise me you'll get off the ship at one of the next stops. You've been spending way too much time at that computer."
Blushing, Suvi looked away. "I don't like to leave things unfinished, and there's just so much to do." She sighed softly, and picked up the cup of coffee that never seemed to move from beside her. "I'll try to take a break at our next docking."
"I think I'll join you when you do," Kallo said to Suvi before looking over at Ryder. "If you wouldn't mind, Ryder, I did some research on Kadara Port and found that one of the stores in the market has a rare Salarian delicacy. Would you mind picking some up for me?"
"Of course."
"Pathfinder," SAM said interrupted cautiously - or, at least as cautiously as an AI could speak - over their private channel. "I advise that you get some rest before we reach Kadara Port. You have not had any sleep since yesterday and your body is beginning to slow in function."
With a sigh, she added to her crew "I'll be in my quarters if you need me." She exited the bridge, casting a glance at PeeBee's escape pod and wondering if the Asari had gotten any further on her special 'project', then slid down the ladder and entered her room.
Despite the quarters being hers, they still felt strange and unfamiliar. She spent so little time in them that she hadn't really made it home. An empty cup of coffee sat on the small work table, creating a stain on the surface. She made a mental note to clean that up next time she had a few spare minutes, then made her way to the neatly made bed.
As she collapsed in and pulled the warm, thick covers up around herself, she realized just how tired she was. Giving herself a moment to rest had caused the adrenaline she had been running on to all but vanish, leaving her body feeling sluggish and heavy. It was only a few moments before her eyelids closed and she slipped into a deep sleep.
After what felt like seconds, Ryder was awoken by the sound of SAM urging her awake. "Pathfinder, Kallo has been attempting to reach you. We are approaching Kadara."
Stifling a yawn, Ryder sat up and swung her legs out of bed, steadying herself. At the moment, she felt like a rest was a bad idea; her legs and body trembled slightly, the sensation of going from a deep sleep to suddenly awake reverberating through her body. She blinked her eyes tight and then wide, trying to force her mind into gear.
"Ryder?" Kallo's voice echoed over the comms.
"I'm awake. Coming up to the bridge now."
One more quick stretch and she stood up, making her way back up the ladder. Her muscles groaned at the sudden exertion after only waking up moments before. It took far too long, however, to walk to the back of the ship and take the lift up. It was a nice, quick workout to get her blood pumping, anyhow.
She approached the galaxy map platform and stopped a few feet away from it, watching as the planet grew larger to their approach.
"Besides being a haven for Nexus exiles, what do we know about this place?"
Vetra chimed in over the comm immediately, without missing a beat. Ryder had a feeling the Turian had knowledge of this port long before the Resistance told them about it, and had likely already conducted business there.
"Group of exiles called the Outcasts liberated Kadara Port from the Kett. Until recently, their power was absolute. But a new gang - the Collective - has been chipping it away. Real shady bastards led by an unknown called the Charlatan.
Great, thought Ryder, more potential hostiles to deal with. She didn't mind the actual fighting - her alliance training had benefited her greatly - but she wasn't very fond of having to shoot at her own people. Even if they were exiles. They had all come to this galaxy to start anew together, and instead, they were splitting into factions and fighting just like they had in the Milky Way.
She brought her hand to her forehead pinching between her eyebrows with her finger and thumb, and letting out a short sigh in frustration.
"Well, with luck, they'll be too busy shooting at each other to notice us."
The Tempest began to slow as it drew closer to the planet, it's surface made up of two rather mundane colours - brown and a muddy green. Once the landing zone was located, Kallo and Suvi began to navigate the Tempest through the atmosphere and towards the port.
"Incoming call," Suvi said. "Patching it through."
Ryder found herself straightening up, even though she knew it was not a vid-call. Habit, she supposed. As Evfra began to speak, Ryder felt herself loosen slightly, letting out a small breath in relief. They wouldn't be going into the Port with minimal information at least. Or, so she hoped.
"There's been a development regarding the spy, Vehn Terev. Rendezvous at Kralla's Song. Your contact's codename is Shena."
Ryder bit the inside of her lip and chewed it slightly. "Shena," she mused. "Got it."
The comm went silent, Evfra not bothering to end the transmission with any verbal cues. Not that she was surprised. As cooperative as he was becoming, his apprehension still seeped into every interaction. He was less concerned with 'making nice' and playing a political game than he was with simply getting shit done. Ryder found she didn't mind that too much - it meant less dancing for her. Even if she had to play it 'safe' in how she responded to him, there didn't seem to be much verbal red tape when dealing with the Angaran leader.
The temperature on Kadara was comfortable, a welcome surprise from the previous planets. Ryder blinked at the dim sunlight before beginning to walk down the Tempest's ramp, Vetra and Drack not far behind her. The port's structures were similar to the ones on Aya, though much less colourful and far more industrial in appearance. She brought her gaze to the walkway in front of them, pausing at the sight of a Kett head impaled on a spike, blood oozing out its eyes and mouth.
"That's one hell of a welcome sign."
Vetra snorted behind her. "Exiles have stepped up their game since the revolt."
Was this a warning just to the Kett, or to everyone, Ryder wondered. A chill ran down her spine as she tried to picture what kind of leader would run a place with the heads of their enemies as the welcome wagon.
The port was bigger than Ryder had expected, yet still small in its own way, hanging over the cliffs of the mountainsides. The entire planet, it seemed, was simply mountain after mountain after mountain. It made sense for the port to be so high up, rather than down in one of the valleys, making it feel almost as if it was a symbol of power in and of itself.
She paused with her two crewmates on one of the upper levels that looked across the entirety of the port. Unlike the docking areas, bright, gleaming, and colourful lights blasted against the buildings. It reminded her of Omega, albeit slightly cleaner. Much less dark as well, without that overwhelming feeling of being a hub for crime and illegal activity. In fact, it hardly felt as if it was a place run by those who preferred to live outside Nexus law. From the view above, it seemed almost civil.
Ryder realized that air of civility could easily be a facade, however. Noting the armed guards - whom she assumed were members of the outcasts - that feeling probably came more from residents being forced to remain "in line" than anything else.
Vetra and Drack came up beside her as the Krogan snorted. Whether it was in amusement, or because he was impressed, Ryder wasn't quite sure.
"Not too shabby for folk who got kicked off the station with nothing to show for it."
"Not too shabby indeed," Ryder murmured, still taking it all in. "Maybe we can get them back on our side."
Vetra leaned onto the railing and cocked her head towards Ryder. "We know they can fight Kett," she mused.
Drack snorted again. "Our supplier's waiting," he said to Vetra. "Come on - we're going to be late."
As the two members of her crew walked away Ryder turned after them. "Do I even want to know?"
"Nope."
They both spoke simultaneously, offering no further explanation. Ryder sighed and shook her head. Director Tann had scolded her earlier about her crew and some of their activities, saying that a true leader needs to have a finger on her people at all times. But Ryder didn't quite see it that way. She was more concerned with their loyalty than with whatever they did in her spare time. Vetra and Drack had proven themselves time and time again, and as long as whatever they did on the side didn't affect the work they needed to do, she was content to let them be.
A commotion on the level below her caught Ryder's attention as someone grumbled "Ungrateful prick." This was followed by the "thud" of boots contacting flesh. A small crowd had gathered. Ryder was half tempted to merely leap over the railing to see what was going on, but thought the better of it. Dropping off a ledge in the middle of the port would probably draw more attention than she was hoping. Instead, she took the stairs to her left, hurrying down them to find armed - and armoured - guards kicking a man on the ground who moaned and yelped in pain. An Angaran resident was being blocked by another guard, despite clearly trying to reach the man on the ground. Another man was being held against a stack of storage crates by one of the guards.
Ryder's blood boiled at the site. If these were the Outcasts, what were they doing harming their own citizens?
"What are you doing to these people?" Ryder demanded of a blonde guard who stood just watching the fray.
"Nothing they weren't expecting," she replied casually, as if completely unphased by the situation. "Port's got two rules: no guns and pay your protection fees."
Ryder frowned in disgust, glancing back again at the man being beaten. "What are you, the mob?"
The guard chuckled sadistically. "Other way around. Outcasts are the law on Kadara. You got a problem with that, you can join these assholes."
Her hand flew instinctively to her side, where her pistol holster normally rested, and she quietly growled in frustration as she realized it wasn't there. Glancing around, she counted four Outcasts in the vicinity, and mentally began to calculate whether she could take them. She felt sick to her stomach watching.
The blonde stared at her, daring Ryder to do something.
"Pathfinder, it will be difficult to find the spy if you're barred from the city."
Ryder cringed as SAM spoke. It went against her every instinct not to help the man. But, taking care of the Kett and making Andromeda safe was priority. At least, that was what she kept trying to tell herself. But she couldn't shake the sickening feeling in the pit of her stomach as she responded.
"I guess you're right," she sighed.
The guard shot her another icy glare. "What was that?"
"Nothing, I'll be on my way."
White blonde hair and sharp blue eyes followed Ryder as she walked away, inhaling deeply and praying they wouldn't follow as she made her way to Kralla's Song.
The bar was what Ryder had expected - not as fancy as the one on the Nexus, but it felt more her style. There were a few tables along the sides, and a wide, open view of Kadara beside the bar. She approached the far side, trying to look as casual as possible, and placed her hands on the counter as the Asari bartender began shouting after an armoured Krogan.
She was impressed; the Asari was petite and rather un-intimidating in appearance, but feisty. One slam of a dagger onto the counter, and the Krogan paid up.
Ryder stepped back slightly from the counter and crossed her arms, a bemused smirk on her face. Something told her she was going to like it on this mountainous planet. There was a tingle in her soul; this place was already making her feel more alive than she ever had.
She was about to order a drink when she noticed a man striding towards her. Tan skin, military-style cropped hair, and snug body-armour that purposefully clung to all the right areas. He glided towards her, a cocky strut as he moved smoothly through the bar. Ryder was mesmerized.
He stopped beside her, and leaned on the counter, a roguish grin spreading across his face.
"You look like you're waiting for someone."