"Eve where are we?" Matt asked.

"Terminus Systems, Nubian Expanse. Star: Kalabsha. No signs of sentient life in the system." Eve intoned.

Matt sighed in relief. "Good, we've earned a break. Let's talk about—"

"Targus?" Neri exclaimed, leaping up and rushing over to the other Turian. "Are you alright?"

Targus groaned. He was on his hands and knees, head down, coughing, or whatever passes for coughing in Turians. "F—fine." He gasped. "What was that?"

"What was what?" Neri asked, confused. Thraak knelt beside him

As well.

Targus took a deep breath and looked up at the cockpit displays. "When you jumped. It… messed with my head something awful."

"You're injured too. Come on," The Krogan said, helping Targus to his feet. On the way to the med bay, Thraak explained the wormhole they had traveled through.

Neri started after them, then thought better of it. "Space sickness, I guess?" she said. Addressing Matt, she added, "Sorry, you were saying?" Jack grinned at her, but she ignored him.

"Right. Thraak will patch him up." He looked at the local system readings. "That was a close call. I think our lives just got a lot more complicated."

"Right," Dahlie added, "We've managed to piss off an entire galaxy of drones, it seems."

"Let's hope it's not as bad as all that." Matt said, "But we need to be careful who we talk to and where we go from now on. Jack, what's the damage?"

"Minimal, but there is some damage to the aft left thruster." Jack said, "I'll have to examine it from outside to be sure."

"OK let's do that before we go too much further."

Jack nodded and began to suit up for a space walk.

Just then, Thraak joined them again. "Stubborn Turian was shot and didn't say anything. Plus, the wormhole messed with him. I think something like motion sickness in you humans."

Neri looked up at him. "Will he be alright?"

"Yeah, he's a tough old bird." Thraak confirmed.

"He'll be fine." Targus said, appearing from the med bay, one hand over his midsection. "Someone want to tell me what's going on?"

"I told you to stay put and rest." Thraak said.

"Yes, you did, and I'll do so once I know what's going on. Who are you people?" he asked, taking a seat at one of the free stations.

"We are from the Andromeda galaxy. We, well, our ancestors, were part of an initiative that organized six sleeper arks to make the 600-year journey to Andromeda. My understanding was the organizers believed that the Reapers were coming and attempted to get several of each species out of the galaxy, in case things went badly."

Targus nodded, "Interesting. That explains a few things. So how did you get here? Another 600-year trip back?"

"A long-distance wormhole." Matt said. Targus winced. "Tech based on that of a precursor race we discovered in Andromeda."

"And that's what you used to jump from Noveria then."

"A modified version of it. The main one was huge. Ours allows a much shorter jump each time." Neri said.

"I see now why you didn't want to share this." Targus nodded. "Don't worry. I won't tell anyone."

"Thank you." Matt nodded. "We don't want to give Reaper forces a door back to Andromeda."

Targus nodded. "I can see that."

"What's our next step?" Ked asked.

"We got you your notes from the lab. Are they of any use?" Matt asked.

"I need some time to go over them." Ked replied, standing. "I'll find a quiet spot in my quarters to sit and study." He headed towards the crew quarters.

"Where can we go if we need repairs?" Neri asked. "Definitely not Noveria!"

"I managed to isolate the damage to your reputations while unlocking the ship," Targus said, "But laying low for a while is definitely a good plan. There's a place I know that will be safe for you. Called Omega. I'll get the co-ordinates."

"Where is that?" Neri asked.

"Core world. A hollowed-out asteroid really. No Gifted go there. Downside is, the place is frequented by pirates, gangs and other low life."

"We'll fit right in then," Jack quipped, as he re-entered the cockpit. "Wanted criminals that we are."

Well, I'll go follow doctor's orders now, I think" Targus said. He attempted to stand, but sat back down, wincing. Thraak made to help him, but Neri jumped up and offered to take him back to med bay.

Dahlie grinned. "I've never seen her like this."

Jack smirked at her, and Thraak guffawed.

Matt just shook his head. "Jack, how does the damage look?"

"Not as bad as I first thought. Mostly cosmetic, but we could replace a couple of parts. Luckily, I have them in stock. Don't fancy trying to do it in space though."

"Sounds good. Maybe we can have a look at Omega once we get there." Matt said. "I'll go warn our guest we'll be jumping soon."

"I'll give him something that will help." Thraak said.

Matt and Thraak headed over to the med bay where they found Neri still talking to Targus. "Neri, prepare a jump course to Omega, I need to speak to our guest."

Neri nodded, and stood, "Aye Captain."

Targus nodded at Matt. "Captain." He watched Neri leave, before turning his attention back to Matt, "Interesting woman. Are you here to warn me to keep my insides together as we travel?"

"I'll give you something that will help," Thraak assured him.

Targus nodded, "Thank you. What else can I do for you, Captain?"

"I'd like to know what you intend to tell your employer." Matt said, "About everything that happened on Noveria and what you learned about us."

"Hmm, yes. Well, I'll need to tell him something, but don't worry. I'll leave out details about Andromeda and your means of travel. Somehow." He looked over at Thraak for a moment, then added, "You do realize, however, that everyone on Noveria would have seen that wormhole open, don't you?"

Matt sighed. "Yes, that is a problem. We didn't have much choice though. Their guns would have ripped us apart."

"Maybe they'll assume it was a space anomaly." Thraak supplied, hopefully.

"One can hope." Targus said, doubtfully. "Anything else, Captain?"

"Yes, I want to know what we can expect on Omega. You made it sound lawless."

"Not entirely." Targus said, "The space port is secure. No one will be messing with your ship, and it's ruled by a friend. The law, such as it is, will be on our side."

"Who is this friend?" Matt asked.

"The Patriarch, people call him. You'll see soon enough. I have another contact for you too, however. She can get us more intel on what the "Gifted" are up to."

"That'll be useful. How will she do that?" Matt queried.

"She's a remarkably good spy." Targus replied. "She has a trick that makes them think she's 'Gifted'. She spends a lot of time on the Citadel, listening for useful information."

As Neri returned to the cockpit, Jack and Dahlia stopped talking and smiled at her. "What?" she asked, not understanding their reaction.

"Nothing." Jack said.

Neri sat and began to chart out the course to the system containing Omega. As she was working Jack spoke up again. "So, how's Targus?"

"He'll be fine. Why?" she asked suspiciously.

"Oh no reason." He glanced at Dahlie, and grinned. "So… you had a good chat with him?"

Neri sighed. "What are you trying to say, Jack?" Jack peered at her face. "What are you doing?"

"Just wondering whether Turians blush." He turned back to his terminal.

"Shut up, Jack." Neri replied, rolling her eyes. She couldn't help but smile a bit not that the human would recognize a Turian smile.

"So, is Targus good looking? For a Turian, I mean." Dahlie asked innocently.

Neri sighed. "Not you too. I was just checking he was alright."

"Right, sure, that's all it was. We believe you." Jack snickered.

"Turians have claws, Jack." Neri reminded him.

"Does that help in—" Jack started, and ducked as Neri took a swipe at him. Dahlie laughed.

"I hate you both." Neri went back to work.

"But you didn't—" Jack began, but just then Matt shoed up, much to Neri's relief.

"How's the course?" he asked.

"Fine, no thanks to these two." Neri muttered. "It's ready for when you give me the word. We'll need to stop for fuel next jump but then it isn't far from Omega"

"Good, fire it up." Matt ordered.

Again, a wormhole opened, and they proceeded through.

Arriving at the next system, Eve deployed fuel scoops as they flew close to the sun.

"I'm going to check on Ked while we refuel." Matt said. He soon found the Salarian pouring over notes.

"Got anything yet?" he asked.

"Yes. At least I think so." Ked replied. "There was an insurance plan set up; in case they were unable to defeat the Reapers. The idea was to tell the next cycle how to defeat them. This is the type of information the Church wants suppressed, naturally."

Matt nodded. "Makes sense. But the reapers, technically, were stopped. Weren't they? There was no harvesting of civilizations."

"No, that is true." Ked agreed, "However, as you can see, the solution was not at all favourable to life in the galaxy. The reapers ultimately got what they wanted."

"Peace and prosperity. On their terms."

"Exactly." Ked agreed, "We need to know what this contingency plan was, and whether it can stop the Reapers control."

"And if it can't?" Matt asked.

"We'll be back where we started." Ked replied, "But I have confidence that, there must be a clue there that will help regardless. The Church wouldn't be suppressing it if it wasn't something that could be used against them."

Matt nodded. "So, any clues where to look for this information?"

"Not yet unfortunately." Ked replied.

Just then, Neri initiated another jump.

Matt returned to the cockpit. "We there?"

"One more jump." Neri replied, "initiating now."

The final jump brought them to a system with a red star, and the remains of a huge space rock. They were some distance from the Omega station. Neri set a course.

"Dahlie will you wake Targus up? We'll need him when we approach."

"I think Neri would—"

"Shut it." Neri replied, in somewhat good humour.

In a few minutes Targus joined them. "That was much smoother," he said. "I'm glad it's over though. Looking forward to being on solid ground."

"Thank the Ancestors." Neri added.

"Hmm, that reminds me. Even among the Ungifted, each species spiritual side has been pretty much erased." Ked spoke up. "You won't find anyone thanking the ancestors, or God, or the Goddess." He glanced at Dahlie, "Unless they mean Shepard, I suppose."

Dahlie sighed. "I was looking forward to some day seeing Thessia. Sounds like it won't be at all the same as we learned about."

"UNKNOWN VESSEL. PLEASE PROVIDE DOCKING CLEARANCE BEFORE APPROACH." A transmission appeared on Neri's terminal.

"Reply with Clearance number Alpha-739614-Alpha" Targus said. Neri did so and got the go ahead. Soon they were in position and docking clamps held the ship secure.

"Welcome to Omega," Targus added, once they got the signal to proceed.