Chapter 6: Back to work

"So what did Sloane want?" Cora asked when she arrived at the meeting room.

They arrived at Kadara not too long ago. Having gotten another message from Sloane that told her she needed to come to her throne room immediately, Ryder decided not to waste any time.

She needed to get back to it. Something was chasing her, she didn't know what. She needed to do something. That's the reason she didn't bother to stop at the markets first. There was still so much to do, and she wasted enough time on a med bay bed.

"We're going after the Charlatan," Ryder said, leaning against the railing as if it was no big news.

"The Charlatan?" Cora stood up straighter, making sure that she heard it right. "Do we have a lead on them?" she sounded curious.

Everyone except maybe Lexi and Drack wondered who the Charlatan could be. Was it one person or a group? Why did they keep their identity a secret? What would it say from an organization if its own people don't even know who the leader is?

Many guesses were thrown around who the Charlatan might be. Some said the change of leadership might be good. Some said it will be worse. At least Sloane shows her face, unlike the Charlatan.

Ryder's thoughts about the whole situation ran a bit differently. At least she knew a bit about Sloane. Her history. And in a way, she understood why Sloane did what she did. She understood why there were protection fees. Because of Sloane Kadara was free of the kett. That didn't mean she did agree with her though.

What did she know about the Charlatan? Nothing. If she was honest with herself she didn't give much thought who the Charlatan might be. Whether it was a person or group. There were much more important things that she thought about.

Ryder always loved to unravel mysteries. Which is why people might say it's unusual that the Charlatan didn't interest her. She didn't know if they would be better suited to rule one day. Luckily the decision wasn't up to her. Or at least that's what she thought.

"Kaetus was beaten up by the Charlatan," Ryder started to explain. "I don't know all of the details, but there's a meeting between them and Sloane."

"And Sloane wants you to go with her," Cora concluded. It wasn't hard to guess that was where Ryder was going with this conversation. "What do you need me to do?"

"This can only get worse," Ryder said what was both on her and Cora's mind. "I need you to get a second team ready for in case things go sideways."

Cora nodded, "I thought you didn't like Sloane, so why are we helping her?"

"I didn't say that, besides," Ryder shrugged, "someone important to her getting hurt. She wouldn't ask for my help if she wasn't desperate."

It was no secret that Sloane disliked Ryder. She made that very clear when Ryder met her the first time. Ryder couldn't care less what she thought about her. She wasn't there to please people.

Ryder also didn't share what her opinions are of the Queen of Kadara with Cora.

"I have a bad feeling about this Ryder," Cora broke her thoughts.

"You're not the only one."

Ryder didn't know how long they would be busy in the Badlands. It was better to be safe than sorry.

A bag was laying open on her bed.

Insulin. Take both pens. Open them. Are they enough? Check.

Snacks. I should probably grab some fruit from the Galley. Is that enough? I should probably take more just for in case. Check.

Take something for in case my sugar falls. What can work? A Ration bar. Check.

Ration bars was one of the things Ryder wasn't allowed to eat anymore. But, that made it perfect for when her sugar falls.

It wasn't the time she needed to test her sugar, but she hadn't quite gotten the grip of her sugar yet. It was better to be safe than sorry. She activated the implant to do its work, and it wasn't long until she heard a beep signaling that it did its work.

17.5 blinked red on her omni-tool. 3 colours were assigned to her sugar. Blue meant low, green meant normal, and then of course red meant high. Crap, that's high.

At least it wasn't in it's 20's that had to count for something, right? Lexi told Ryder that her sugar should be between 4-8, 5-10 can work too though.

After a sigh she zipped her bag, she was ready for her first mission back."

Ryder was mad. No one dared to say a word when they got back into the Nomad.

Ryder didn't know if she made the right choice. Should she have warned Sloane of the sniper? That's the thing. She didn't choose, she hesitated, and in that split decision, Sloane was shot.

Ryder rushed to her side looking if she was still alive.

"Dammit," she cursed as she felt no pulse. Sloane was dead. "What the hell is wrong with you?" she asked the smuggler. "Did you really need to kill her?"

"You saw the sniper," he cornered her. "I know you did."

Not deciding is a choice as well.

"Not the point!" she snapped. Ryder knew Reyes was right. She could've stopped it. So why didn't she? Why did she hesitate?

Ryder had no problem with Reyes. She knew he was a secretive man, and strangely he admitted to her why he came to Andromeda. She was surprised, not expecting it. She wouldn't go as far as to say that they were friends. Was that a tactic to exploit her?

"You're mad?" he sounded surprised.

"Of course I am! You betrayed me. Used me. And for what?"

Ryder and Reyes talked for a while. Well, Reyes talked, she yelled at him. When she had enough she walked. It was better that way.

"So what's next?" Vetra asked. It came out awkward. Peebee didn't breathe a word.

"It's better we leave," Ryder answered calmly, "It's better that the Tempest isn't here when the Collectives take over the Port."

"SAM," Ryder talked into their private channel, "Tell everyone that's not here to get their asses on the Tempest. We're leaving."

"Acknowledge."

"And give Kallo the message too."

"Do you hear that?" Peebee asked no one in particular.

Ryder frowned as she concentrated, it wasn't long until she heard it as well. "We need to st-"

The Nomad interrupted Ryder. It wasn't long until the Nomad refused to move any further.

"Gill just worked on the Nomad this morning," Vetra reminded them.

"So it's a trap," Peebee concluded.

"Yeah." Dammit. It had to happen today of all days. "Ready your weapons," Ryder ordered.

"Looks like your Nomad is having problems," a women spoke from behind Ryder. She turned around with her weapon. A pistol was pointed at Ryder's face.

Several men and women from different species appeared out of nowhere. Ryder and her team could take them out if they wanted to. The question was if they should risk it or not.

"What do you want?" Ryder sighed. She didn't have the time or energy for this. "Please, can we drop the shenanigans, and just cut to the chase?"

"I'm not playing games!" her voice was shaky, but that wasn't the only thing that Ryder noticed. The pistol in her hands was unsteady. She looked nervous. She wasn't calm. She was afraid. This wasn't something she wanted to do.

"Pathfinder, should I contact Lieutenant Harper?" SAM talked through their private channel.

"No, I can handle this." There wasn't time to explain it to SAM. Ryder couldn't be distracted. She shouldn't let any of them know that an AI just talked to her.

"Just talk to me," Ryder tried to take the calm approach. "What do you need? Maybe we can work something out."

"You're a diabetic," the women said.

Ryder was shocked, whatever she expected it wasn't this. How the hell did people in Kadara know that? Never mind that. How the hell did people in the Badlands know that? Doesn't the exiles have no access to the port? And what did Ryder being a diabetic have to do with anything?

"Uh," Ryder started unsurely. She wasn't sure what the right approach was. "What about it?" It was better to ask questions.

"I need…" the women's voice was wavering. "I need insulin."

Ryder was dumbfounded by the statement and couldn't help to blink a couple of times. "You need insulin," she repeated. It didn't make any sense. Why would a group of exiles want insulin?

"That's what I said."

"Why?"

The women let out a sigh. "Pathfinder you'll come with me. Your friends can stay here with some of mine."

"Ryder no," Peebee started to protest. Up until this point, Peebee and Vetra haven't said a word.

"That's not up for discussion," Ryder made herself clear. "Just don't do anything stupid."

"I'll give you a moment with your people," the women said walking away.

"Ryder we can take these people out," Vetra voiced her thoughts. "Why are you acting like this?"

"Because the only reason they're doing this is cuase they are desperate," Ryder said.

"How the hell do you know that?" Vetra whispered. She whispered so loud that it almost wasn't considered a whisper anymore.

"I have a feeling."

Peebee rolled her eyes, "You want to do nothing because you have a feeling?" She was annoyed. None of them agreed with her plan. "That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard, and I've heard pretty stupid things in my life Ryder."

"Okay. Fine," Vetra agreed. "But if we see anything and I mean anything out of place we're going to do something."

"Alright," Ryder agreed.

"Is the insulin in there?" the women asked as Ryder got her bag out of the Nomad.

"Yes," Ryder confirmed. "Care to tell me what your name is?"

"You can call me Erna."

"Where are we going? What are you going to do with the insulin?" Ryder asked as she followed Erna and her fellow Mercs. They still pointed their guns at her, but the atmosphere changed. Erna knew Ryder was willing to help.

"You ask too many questions. Be patient. You'll see," Erna said. Whatever this was Erna wanted Ryder to see. She could've easily just taken the insulin from Ryder, but she didn't. "You have insulin on your fancy ship. Why does it matter?"

"But you'll show me anyway. Why?" Ryder enquired. "Why not take it and let us go?"

Erna stopped, and the rest with her. "Because…" she hesitated, not sure if she should say the words that were forcing their way out of her mouth. "We need help. I need help."

They moved forward again. Ryder didn't say anything, and it wasn't long until they arrived at a shuttle.

I need help, she said. It sounded like they needed that insulin. Which means…either Erna or someone important to her is a diabetic. Ryder didn't think it was Erna. These acts were out of love. She's doing this for someone.

"Get in," Erna ordered.

Ryder did what she was told.

"Pathfinder, Lieutenant Harper and the rest are wondering where you are. What should I tell them?" SAM's voice rang through her head again just before the shuttle took off.

This was because Ryder told SAM to let everyone know they were leaving, and now Ryder was nowhere near or on the Tempest.

She looked over to the mercs seeing if anyone suspecting something was off with her. She didn't think they suspect anything. A couple of the other mercs were talking to the others. The only person she might need to worry about was Erna that wasn't leaving her sight from Ryder.

"Tell them I'm just in the middle of something."

If SAM tells anyone what was happening Cora will get a team and come find them. That will cause trouble for them. It was better to resolve this peacefully.

Things might be okay right now but if Erna suspects anything she might do something. She is doing this out of desperation after all.

"How did you know I'm a diabetic?" curiosity got the better of Ryder. It also helped her to put her focus back to the situation.

In the past, there have been incidents where people realized something was off when she talked with SAM. There was, for instance, the first time she had a meeting with Tann. This was when the Tempest was first assigned to her.

After the meeting, Tann asked her if everything was okay. She needed to be quick on her feet. Ryder made up an excuse saying a lot has happened. This wasn't exactly a lie, but not the truth either.

The events of Alec Ryder's death was still fresh in her mind. Everything that occurred on Habitat 7 kept replaying in her mind.

"I have contacts," the answer broke her thoughts. Ryder knew it wasn't a lie, but it didn't reveal too much either.

The rest of the shuttle ride was spent in silence. Ryder stared out of the window trying to figure out where they were going, but this weren't a part of the Badlands she was familiar with.

"This is the place?" Ryder asked as the shuttle landed. She wasn't sure how long she was in the shuttle, but she also didn't bother asking SAM either.

"Let's go," Erna said, confirming it.

As they made their way out of the shuttle Ryder studied the place. It looked similar to merc hideouts she's seen before on Kadara.

She was led inside a small room. Ryder barely got a look of the room before Erna spoke, "That's my daughter and she's a diabetic."

"She's the one that needs insulin." It was an obvious conclusion. Anybody could come to this conclusion, but it didn't make it any less the truth.

"I don't understand," Ryder said as she saw the girl lying in the bed. "Was she recently diagnosed? Is that why she needs insulin?"

The girl was fast asleep, but even in this state Ryder could see how pale and sick she looked.

"You mean why she doesn't have an implant?" Erna read between the lines.

"Yes," Ryder said carefully.

Erna took a seat on the bed and brush the girl's dark hair lovingly with her fingers. "She had one," she began," But one day it malfunctioned. I tried getting her insulin but, this is the Badlands afterall."

That statement said everything Ryder needed to know.

"She's just a little girl." It's all Ryder could think of to say. No words would be enough. She didn't deserve this. "How's she doing?"

This broke Ryder's heart, more than it should have. To know the only reason she doesn't have insulin is because of where she is and given circumstances Ryder could've easily been in the same situation.

If by some way Ryder was exiled she wouldn't have access to insulin and without it, she wouldn't be able to survive. For diabetics this is a basic need.

"Every day she gets weaker. She can't hold her food down anymore."

She was slowly dying.

At that moment Ryder didn't feel sadness. She didn't feel any sympathy for either of them. She felt anger. It wasn't fair that things got like this.

Ryder didn't hear their story. She didn't know if Erna was exiled to the Badlands because she couldn't pay her protection fees, or because she stole or even murdered someone. She didn't need to know about that to be angry.

"Here," she zipped the back open and gave Erna the two insulin pens. "That one is the short-distance working one," Ryder pointed one of the pens. "I'll wait outside."

She didn't even know if this type insulin will work for her, but it was better than nothing.

Ryder didn't know how long she was alone with her thoughts until Erna came out. "She'll be okay?" Ryder asked. Even though she never talked to the girl she was concerned.

"Yes," Erna led out a sigh and Ryder didn't know if it was a sigh of relief or that she had too much on her plate. "This will help…"

"But it won't be enough," Ryder said what Erna didn't. Ryder chewed her lip. She knew she shouldn't, but she couldn't help herself either. "I'll get more," she promised. She didn't know how she was going to convince Lexi or what she'll say to the Initiative when they ask her where all the insulin have gone to, but she knew this was something she needed to do.

Ryder didn't know if she was doing this for herself, or Erna, or even for that little girl. Her reasons didn't matter.

"You will?" Erna was surprised, and Ryder couldn't blame her either. If the last few months were any indication then Erna didn't get much help. Every man for himself. That's how things went on Kadara.

"Yes."

If Erna worried what Ryder was getting out of this she didn't say anything.

"You did what?" Peebee asked when they were in the Nomad again.

Ryder pushed the accelerator harder, trying to get faster out of there. "I gave my insulin to them."

"That was stupid," Peebee said.

"What was I supposed to do? Leave them like that?" Ryder could feel how the anger was threatening to come out. "She can't function without it. Who knows how long they struggled like this." The unspoken words were there. This isn't right. Then another thought came to her. I need to talk to Reyes.

That was the last thing she wanted to do. She was still mad at him. She wasn't mad because he killed Sloane. She was angry because of the way he did it. How he used her.

He could've asked for my help.

But, that wasn't something he would do. And if she was completely honest with herself, even she didn't know where her alliances laid.

Ryder took the first sip of her bitter coffee.

Yuk! Will I ever get used to this?

Ryder tried this Galaxy's version of sweeteners in her coffee but for some reason she couldn't stomach it. Bitter coffee wasn't exactly tasty either, but it was better.

She couldn't get Sloane out of her mind. The reality was Sloane's ending was so sad. Even after everything she has done she deserved better than this.

"Ryder, SAM said you wanted to see me?" It took Ryder a moment to realize that it was Lexi that spoke. She didn't even hear her entering the Galley. "How's your coffee," she asked as she sat opposite from Ryder.

"Disgusting."

"You'll get used to it."

"Is there a way that we can get more insulin," she leaned forward. Her words almost a whisper.

"Why?" Lexi frowned suspiciously. "We have enough."

"I know."

Ryder and Lexi started at each other. Everyone knew what had happened the day before. Ryder knew she wouldn't need to spell it out, Lexi already gave her a piece of her mind for giving her insulin out to strangers like that.

"You can't Ryder." The switch went on in Lexi's head.

"Lexi she needs it. I have to."

Lexi sighed. "What are you going to tell the Initiative?" Ryder still hadn't come up with an answer for that.

"I told them I would," Ryder said, she referred to the promise she made Erna. She knew making promises like that wasn't very wise.

"You shouldn't have," Lexi made her point. "Look-"

A ping from Lexi's omni-tool interrupted them. She blinked a couple of times as she read whatever had her attention.

"What is it?" Ryder asked slowly. Her heart beating faster as she saw Lexi's expression. It looked important.

"It's about the virus."