Chapter 15: Is this Home?
Notes:
Many thanks to Pip_n_Flinx for beating.
Ryder woke the next day in bed with no recollection of getting there. The last thing she remembered was laying her head on Jaal's shoulder.
She felt better - though not a lot. Her head didn't pound as hard and it didn't feel like the softest sound would cause it to explode. But the spasms were still there.
Lexi gave her stretch exercises but in the end it felt like it made them worse.
Once Ryder stepped foot on the Tempest SAM spoke, "Pathfinder the Ghost Storm Technology is ready."
Her heart began to beat faster at the news. Things had been crazy, but between it all Ryder implemented the technology. She was thankful for the other Pathfinders' help. She couldn't have done this without them.
Ryder still couldn't believe that the leadership didn't want them to pursue this. A place to call home would give people stability and hope. It was something they needed. Everyone was losing hope. Fighting the kett like this wasn't enough. People weren't living, they were surviving. They needed a win.
It might not be the best time right now, it's probably the worst time. But they had no choice.
They were still on Elaaden. The vaults were activated. There was a problem with the water. But most of the missions they could tackle were complete.
Her stomach turned at all the odd places. This was it! This was Meridian. This is what they were all waiting for. And now they could go to Meridian. They might have somewhere to call home.
That was if - and it was a big if - everything went according to plan. That's why Ryder immediately thought of all the things that could go wrong. What would happen if the Ghost Storm Technology failed somehow? What if Meridian had some sort of safety mechanisms? Or had something other than remnants?
But even Ryder knew she had to stop these kinds of thoughts. That wouldn't help them anywhere.
It was time to arrange a meeting with the whole crew. Even Suvi, Lexi, and Kallo would need to attend. They are doing this behind the back of the Nexus Leadership afterall. And she couldn't drag anyone with them against their will. That was not the kind of leader Ryder wanted to be.
The conversation Ryder had with the leadership after the Archon's flagship was replaying in her head over and over again, the disapproval. Ryder couldn't help to wonder what they would do if they found out what she was planning. She shook her head trying to rid her mind of the memory.
The consequences didn't matter. These actions, finding Meridian, will help them in the long run.
"Thank you SAM." Ryder needed to take a shower to cool off. Elaaden's climate was still unbearable for her. "Call a meeting. Everyone must attend."
"Yes Pathfinder."
"Make it in 10 minutes."
As Ryder began the meeting she searched her crew's faces. Some frowned more the more they heard,while others' were neutral. They were unreadable, and she found it impossible to guess what they were thinking.
She first told them what happened in the meeting with the leadership, although some knew. She did it more to refresh their memories than anything else. Ryder didn't tell any of them of her visit with the other Pathfinders nor with Doctor Ariana. Just Cora knew. That was until now.
Ryder doubted that Cora would agree with the plan. She always did things by the book and everyone knew it.
That's why Cora's question came as no surprise to Ryder, "Just to clarify: You're defying a direct order?"
That's exactly what Ryder was doing. She went behind the leadership's back. But if there was any other way she would have done it. She decided to do things the right way. All of them needed this, and the leadership didn't think it was worth the risk. Ryder was going to prove them wrong. But she wouldn't be the only one. If they agreed, all of them would.
So Ryder began explaining herself. "As Pathfinder it's my job to bring us home." She did her best to avoid Cora's gaze. She looked around the room. "Maybe some of you will agree with me. Maybe not. But the leadership is wrong Without Meridian…"
She might've been in the room but her mind was thousands of miles elsewhere. On the Archon's flagship. She saw the bodies that lay on operating tables. Recordings of the horrible experiments. Maybe the kett would still be a problem but people needed a home. They needed a fresh start. They needed to rebuild what they've lost.
"Without Meridian," she continued. "People won't have hope or a home. That's why we got to Andromeda in the first place and it's exactly what we're going to do."
Drack let out a laugh of agreement, "That's the spirit."
She couldn't help to smile. If there was someone who would agree with her she was glad it was Drack.
"What about the kett?" Jaal asked while he wrapped his mind around all of this. She wasn't sure if he would agree or not. But it was the logical question to ask. It wouldn't help if they went to Meridian and the kett is there to stop them.
"That's where the Ghost Technology will come in." As Ryder explained she saw a few heads nodding in understanding.
Raeka went on to explain further. Filling the gaps that Ryder left. She spoke to the team over the comm.
"Hmm…" Suvi said. This was the part that interested the science officer. "This could work, but you are aware it won't be all of them."
They would still need to fight the kett, but that was to be expected.
"This could work," Vetra said, "But Suvi is right."
"The Tempest is small and fast. I don't need a big window," Kallo agreed with the plan. The question that was on everyone's lips was answered by him. "We'll drop you off and exit before the kett catch on."
Liam rubbed his chin with his thumb and index finger, "But that will require a small team, right? Everyone can't go."
Some faces fell. More and more people were beginning to get excited about this mission. Maybe it wouldn't be so hard to convince her team it was the right path.
"Yes," Peebee said. "We'll need to move fast and figure out its secrets." She was more excited about the remnant itself than anything else.
Everyone began to speak up as they delved more into the plan. Figuring out where they would be dropped off and how they will get back to the Tempest again.
Everyone might be excited about this and even Cora's mood lightened up but that didn't mean they were all in.
"Cora's right," Ryder looked at her second. "We're doing this on our own. The Nexus doesn't know and when they find out-"
"They'll be happy when we have Meridian," Liam assured everyone. As if that would solve everything. Tann will still be unhappy that they went to do this instead of doing the work he assigned the Tempest to.
"We don't know what will happen. Maybe that doesn't matter. All I care about at this point, is to succeed." It was the truth. If they failed, this would all be for nothing and that's the last thing Ryder wanted. "But if anyone isn't onboard I won't force you. Leave the room. The choice is yours."
The seconds ticked by and everyone wore serious expressions. Ryder was looking around the room waiting for someone to walk away. Every movement catched her eyes. She was focussed. So focussed that her heart skipped a couple of beats when she heard Drack speak.
"I think it's safe to say we're all on your side." Everyone nodded at his words.
"It's not the best plan to go behind the Initiative's back," Cora admitted. At least she was honest. But Ryder couldn't help to feel discouraged by this. "But," her second said when everybody stared at Cora. "We need to do this. There's no other way. The consequences if we don't do it will be far worse."
"That's it. Everybody knows what to do." Ryder dismissed them.
Before anyone could leave Suvi added, "Oh, this is exciting." Ryder had a feeling that the rest of the crew couldn't help to agree.
When Suvi said Meridian looked like a giant space station she couldn't agree more. It looked remarkable. But she couldn't believe what her eyes were seeing.
It was time to go and get ready for the mission. Ryder had decided to take Drack and Peebee for this one.
As Ryder was gearing up she heard the first bad news. "Ryder," Kallo's voice rang over the comms, "looks like a flyby is our only option. I'll get as low as possible but you'll have to eject over the target area."
She knew what that meant and she didn't particularly like that idea. Flashes of Habitat 7 played in her mind. A scream escaped her throat as she fell. Thoughts flying. Shuttle parts falling down with her.
Ryder's heart beat out of her chest at the memory but it slowly calmed down. She suspected SAM helped.
It was the best choice. She hoped this wouldn't turn as badly as Habitat 7. But the truth was they didn't know what was going to happen. She let Kallo know it was fine and everything would be perfect.
Gill comemented. Liam told the group about how she screamed when they landed on Habitat 7 or more accurately how they fell. In her defense, she just saw the shuttle being destroyed and some parts of the crew falling to what Ryder feared was their deaths.
After Gill wished them good luck on their mission they were ready to go. Ryder wasn't sure if she should feel more nervous than she felt.
Suvi has let them know that everything was ready and the Ghost Storm Technology worked. Ryder couldn't help to let out a sigh of relief. At least that didn't go wrong. They might not have the best landing zone but if the technology didn't work they could've forgotten about Meridian.
Ryder told the pilot to get out of there as soon as they dropped the Pathfinder team off. No need to stay in danger for longer than necessary.
With their jumpsuits, they landed. It was a steep drop and the landing was hard and risky.
Heart panting as she was falling again, with no ground beneath her feet. She landed on the ground with a roll. The adrenaline not leaving her body yet.
"Is everyone okay?" Ryder asked when the Tempest flew above their heads. She hoped they would get out in time.
"Just a couple of bruises," Peebee said. Ryder couldn't tell if she was serious or making a joke.
When she heard there was a possibility that they found Meridian's controls Ryder was ecstatic. But it seemed that even if that was the case Meridian's controls were deactivated. They would need to find a way to activate them again.
Meridian was beautiful, she had no words to describe it. The blue lights twinkled and bridges appeared as they started to walk on them.
Ryder wasn't the only one who was taken aback by its beauty. Peebee might've said nothing but her eyes screamed as she appreciated what was before them. She was amazed by everything she saw.
When they laid their eyes on the central hub they knew more what to do.
It wasn't long before they encountered overheard orders about capturing the Pathfinder. It made Drack look forward to the fight.
At every corner, they bested more kett. Ryder also activated quite a couple of consoles. But the further into Meridian they explored the kett's defenses grew stronger, and the remnant posed an obstacle as well.
They weren't just fighting for themselves. If the Archon got Meridian it would be over for them. After discovering the origins of the angarans they knew how much they needed to make sure the Archon doesn't get Meridian.
But through all of this, she couldn't help but wonder how Jaal would feel once he found out about his origin. Regret seeped in through the cracks. Ryder should've picked him. Why didn't she? She could've left him out in any other mission. But not this one.
A side of her wanted to go back to the Tempest and get him. But that wasn't possible. Wishing something and the reality of it were two different things. She couldn't change the past.
The further they went the more alive the city seemed. It's beauty grew and grew beyond Ryder's imagination. One thing that Ryder didn't think they would see here - not because she didn't think it's possible but because she didn't give it much thought - was the Scourge.
Not only did they have to fight kett but remnant as well. Something happened when she activated the second tower's console. And then there were more opponents to be fought.
In the end, it turned out that this place wasn't Meridian, or if it was, it wasn't everything. All of that excitement. They are so near yet so far.
They needed to find a way to Meridian, the real one, and Ryder didn't know how they would find it. At least not yet.
All she knew was that the Tempest would need to work together to find the answers. The Scourge destroyed everything in its path. Ryder wished there was a way to fight it, but it seemed that was impossible too.