Chapter 13: Fight With Everything You Have

So it's been two months since I've updated this fic. I've been dealing with some mental health problems for a while and posting really stressed me out. It made feel bad about my writing. So I needed a break. I thought it might take me longer to post again. Things aren't going better for me but I've missed sharing this story. If you're still reading this, then thank you.

A big thanks for Pip_n_flinx for taking up beta duties, even while being really busy. I really appreciate it!

"Hey Ryder!" Cora called out to her when she passed the crew quarters.

She took a few steps back and went into the room. Nobody was in there except her second. "What's up?"

She crossed her arms and Ryder knew it was a serious matter. Either that or she's reading the situation wrong. "You never told me how the conversation with Tann went."

Hands fidgeting she sighed. She hadn't spoken to anyone about it. The only other person that knew was SAM, and Ryder knew he wouldn't dare to tell anyone. "Don't worry about it."

But of course that wouldn't work on Cora. "Ryder it's fine if you don't want to talk about it."

Ryder knew she needed to tell Cora. It was a conversation she dreaded, but it involved her as well. "Tann's not happy."

Cora frowned, and Ryder could see her mind working. "What did he say?"

"I need to start doing my job." When she recognized the look that Cora gave she continued, "Not exactly his words but that's the basics of it. I've been neglecting my job."

Cora shook her head, her face turning red with anger. "You did your best."

"Maybe," though Ryder didn't believe that was the case. Maybe she could've tried harder. "But my best isn't good enough."

"Screw him," Ryder was shocked. Whatever she expected it wasn't that.

"Cora…"

"Screw him." This time it was harder, firmer. Cora was trying to make a point. What the point was, Ryder couldn't be sure.

"Cora, he has a point. It's not about who I am or whether we agree with each other. It's about what's best for the people. And I'm not it." Maybe I can change it, she thought hopeful but she wasn't sure if she could believe that.

Cora sighed. She must've known Ryder had a point. "What did the other leaders say?" she asked.

Ryder led out with a shrug, "I didn't ask."

A frown immediately replaced Cora's neutral expression, "They didn't say anything?"

"The rest weren't there."

"This isn't right. It's not fair to you." Her second dropped the last part. Why the leadership wasn't there didn't matter right now.

"So is life." She stopped. Trying to think of a different way. "Look I'm not mad…"

"But you should be." Cora was getting mad for her part. And Ryder didn't understand why. It wouldn't be the worst thing if Ryder lost her job. There are far more important things in life.

"I get it." There was no need to put more fuel on the fire. "I was away for too long, too many times." The Initiative… this Galaxy doesn't need that. They need someone dependable. who can be there the whole time." Someone like you.

The unsaid words floated in the air and Ryder had to wonder if Cora saw it. She was supposed to take over, not Ryder.

Cora stared at her for far longer than she should have. If anyone looked at Cora they would know she was pissed. "Why don't you care?"

"I do care."

"So, start acting like it."

Didn't she act like it? She tried to work harder. Giving it her all. Maybe looking into the Benefactor wasn't the best thing for Andromeda right now, but it was still important. There was no way Cora was aware of it, was there? Besides she just followed Garson's leads.

"If they want to take your job you don't let them." It sounded like Cora was the one ordering her. "You fight with everything you have, got it?"

"That's the plan."

"Good."

Ryder lied to Cora. She was mad. Not at the Initiative or its leadership, but at herself.

She wished there was a reverse button somewhere. Even if she still became a diabetic, yes it had crappy timing but she should've handled it better.

She slammed her locker door earning her a few stares from Jaal and Drack. Why did she come to Andromeda? What was so appealing about this galaxy?

Sure life sucked back home and her career was destroyed and she wanted an adventure, but it was all for nothing. Andromeda brought nothing but heartache.

No, that's not true. Her eyes found Jaal's as he got his weapons ready. If it wasn't for this Galaxy she never would've met him. There was no guarantee that things would work between them. Sure, everything was fine now, but what of the future?

She had an amazing crew who was like a family to her. But is all of that worth it?

Losing her father, almost losing her brother. Not having somewhere to call home. She missed that. Ryder needed stability, not all the time, but she always felt stable when she had somewhere to call home. Something to fall back on.

"What are you thinking about?" Jaal's blue eyes met hers.

But his question demanded a long and complicated answer. Even if it wasn't complicated, how could she tell him she wished she never came to Andromeda? So she shook her head and said, "Nothing."

He stared at her for a moment and it felt like her thoughts were revealed on her forehead. Jaal nodded as he understood, "You're thinking hard of nothing then."

Her eyes found Drack where he was impatiently waiting for them."C'mon, we have a lot to do before the day is over."

"Well, that was a waste of time," Ryder said after they had an unpleasant meeting with Morda. The Krogan leader insulted Ryder every chance she got. She made it clear that she didn't just hate the Initiative, but Ryder as well.

The plan was to talk to Brenk first, but they barely had a chance before she stormed in and gave her a piece of her mind.

"I wouldn't say that," Jaal said with a look Ryder could only explain as confusion. "Now we know."

"But it brought us nowhere."

Drack gave no opinion of what he thought. "We need to talk to Brenk. He'll know what to do."

The place they met up was secluded, he was acting paranoid. He was worried that someone might overhear.

What Brenk told Ryder was ridiculous. Morda wanted to retrieve the drive core on the remnant ship. Her thoughts were racing, what on earth would Morda want that for?

"She wants to build a bomb and use it against the Initiative."

Ryder raised both of her eyebrows in surprise. As the information sunk in, she rapidly blinked her eyes. They needed to stop her. If she succeeds many people will lose their lives. This could cause a war between the Initiative and the Krogan.

Why did everyone want to start a war when they're already fighting one with the kett?

When all Strux's men were dead Ryder couldn't help to find all of this ironic. The person who they thought was behind this was innocent and lied to. Strux twisted Morda's words and actions. The Pathfinder team didn't have all the information, and if they hadn't uncovered it, all things would have gone from bad to worse between the Krogan and Initiative.

"That was close," Jaal mimicked her thoughts.

"C'mon," Drack was furious. "Let's go back. I'm going to kill him."

They all knew by him he ment Strux. Drack was angry and rightfully so. Ryder didn't know if Strux and Drack were friends. If they were, she doubted they would be thing Ryder was certain about was that he trusted him. Trust being betrayed is never an easy thing.

Throughout this entire mission the Pathfinder team have run around Elaaden, fighting outlaws, remnants, and krogan. Ryder wasn't expecting to deal with remnant when Drack asked for her help, but Andromeda had a way of creeping up on you.

"First, we need to contact the Tempest." When Drack gave Ryder a look of disapproval she continued, "A team needs to secure the Drive Core. We can't let this fall into the wrong hands."

"Good idea kid."

No one said another word while Ryder made the call to Gil. The tension was too high.

"Gil!" It was said in urgency

"Ryder?" He was confused, probably because of the way Ryder said his name. "What's wrong?"

"I need you to get a team to the Drive Core. Cora needs to make a point." She moved her eyes to look worriedly at Drack. It looked like he was going to explode from anger. "ASAP," she ordered the engineer.

"Aye, aye." And with that the line was disconnected.

When Ryder saw everyone in the Throne room her lips slipped, "Oh crap. That can't be good."

Drack and Jaal stopped when they saw it too.

"Hello Nexus," there was nothing positive in Morda's tone. "You're back." She spit the words out. Clearly she wasn't happy. Whatever lies Strux fed her weren't good

"I am," Ryder's words held firmly.

"Strux told me you went to get the Drive Core off my remnant ship."Her voice grew more sour with every word. She already thought badly of her. The other krogan's words were poisoning her.

"That's true," Ryder confirmed. There was no use in lying to her. But Morda also didn't have the entire story, which counted against them.

"And that you sold it to scavengers who took it off world to make a profit for you and them."

Ryder crossed her arms across her chest. She was getting defensive, this was the time to correct the krogan leader. "Strux is the one you should be interrogating."

Morda returned the defensiveness. "Stay out of krogan affairs Nexus," she growled. Ryder knew a warning when she heard one. "I'll interrogate whoever I want."

Morda took it too personally. She just meant to give the krogan the truth. Even if they don't get an outpost. Avoiding war with the krogans was much more important than an outpost right now."

"Are all krogan terrible listeners?" Drack's gaze was boring into her skull. It was probably not Ryder's best choice of words at the moment.

"Wait for it," Strux took over. He began telling what really happened and insulted Morda as well as her clan in the process.

Ryder's eyebrows shot up in surprise. That was easy. She didn't expect Strux to come clean on his own.. He was planning to take over. That was definitely not the smartest execution to his plan.

But Morda could handle her own. She head-butted him and he fell on the ground. "You're all talk Jourgal Strux," his name was an insult. "I made the colony."

But Strux stood up as if nothing happened. He was losing yet he didn't see it. The counterarguments came. Mentioning how it should be the oldest clan and using his clan's name. It would start a war.

Then finally Drack spoke, giving the good news. "Except you can't, because we have it."

"Oh, you could've waited a little bit." Jaal was enjoying it. "Let him give his whole plan," he gave Ryder a nudge.

Morda was surprised. She wanted to know what was going on. "What do you mean you have it?"

Everyone was looking at Drack. "I'll let the Pathfinder answer that."

"Finally! Where to start…" Ryder was making the most out of this. "It all started when Strux contacted me-" But Ryder was interrupted by Morda.

"Okay I'm done listening now." She turned around and showed Ryder her back, dismissing her as if she had nothing of importance to say.

"I didn't even get to the good part." There was so much to this story. Strux really gave her a run for her credits.

Morda turned her gaze to Strux. The two krogans were circling each other like predators. "I'm impressed Strux," that wasn't something Ryder expected to hear. "You're more cunning than most. Smarter even." Morda knew exactly how to handle him.

Strux started to explain why he wanted control. His story was somewhat sad. They said his father wasn't strong enough, but Strux tried his best. And he believed he bested Morda. That remained to be seen though.

It wasn't necessary to handle things the way he had. And when he said, "Clan Nakmor will pay in blood," things started to happen.

Morda threw the first punch, then Strux gave her an uppercut. They fought back and forth but she had the upper hand when she saw an opening and kicked him. Strux fell to the ground and Nakmor Morda were victorious. She claimed what was hers.

Cora's voice was ringing in her head, If they want to take your job you don't let them. The conversation she had with her second earlier came back to her in a flood. You fight with everything you have, got it? Ryder shook her head, trying to rid her of the flashback. This wasn't the place nor the time to think about this.

But that was what Morda did, wasn't it? Someone tried to take her place and she fought for it. That was a leader.

"You put the colony at risk because you carried a grudge across dark space?" The krogan leader brought Ryder back to the task at hand. Morda thought it was ridiculous a stupid reason for Strux to do so. And she kicked him again.

Strux got up slowly but Morda's other punches - her words - still came, "You're really not worth killing Jourgal Strux." This was an insult to her authority. "Get out!" she ordered. Her voice held command. "Take your goons with you."

Before an unhappy Strux and his people could even leave the room Morda spoke again, "Now where's the Drive Core? Hand it over." It was an order.

"Just like that?" After everything that happened the krogan leader was expecting too much. "Just hand it over?" Morda owed more than that. And this was an opportunity Ryder needed to take advantage of.

"It's incredibly powerful," Morda explained. "We'll use it to power the colony." This will put us ahead by decades." And the krogan people certainly deserved it.

"Or," Jaal's voice was heard, "it could do the same for Prodromos." Prodromos, the colony on Eos that had been through so much. It certainly deserved it. But the krogans…

"If you do that it's over between the krogan and the Nexus forever." Some may say it's blackmail, but Ryder didn't see it like that. The krogan did have it first.

But even Drack wasn't satisfied, "You have to give us something for it. It's only right."

"We did get shot at," Ryder agreed. Thinking back at how much trouble this caused them. "A lot."

Then Morda suggested the one thing the Initiative desperately needed to survive. She suggested a colony. And how could Ryder disagree? Even SAM gave his ascent.

The human Pathfinder and the Krogan leader shook hands in agreement. Morda might dislike Ryder but this was a good start. A start both parties needed.