The Firefly (Mass Effect Andromeda)

Chapter 8

"Good news!" Harry greeted her, wandering into the cryo bay. It had been a few weeks since she had watched Scott vanish on the Tempest into unknown space. Her short time hanging out with the Pathfinder had been oddly cathartic. Scott had been funny, caring and mature beyond his years. She had forgiven him entirely for his harsh words when they arrived. He'd been so cool about the Francis scenario too, about her past. "Liv, are you listening?"

"Oh, sorry Harry!" Liv turned to smile at him, "What's up?"

"Your mother. She's being released from cryo today. With the new outpost, Tann is keen to appease people and start getting some of our colonists out."

"That's great!" She beamed, feeling the sudden sensation of butterflies in her stomach. Her mother had no idea what had gone on, no idea that her husband was in a coma. Besides, she and her mother had always had something of a difficult relationship. Laura Taylor was tough, practical. She didn't like excuses, just results. In another life she'd have been an excellent soldier but had found her calling in botany through her farming upbringing.

It was one of the reasons she had risen to the top of her field. She never cut herself any slack, and thus the Initiative had wanted her. But she never cut her children any slack either. Nina was disciplined, and just like her mother, but Olivia had always been softer, more of a free spirit. It had caused numerous ructions over the years, and Olivia still always felt oddly nervous and childlike in the presence of her mother.

"When are you waking her?"

"Now." Harry replied, "You want to be there when she wakes?"

"Yes. Thank you." They headed in what felt like an uneasy silence to where a number of cryo-pods sat. Some were already open, their occupants being helped down to the med bay to rest. Her mother was there, already trying to shrug off the people trying to help her. Self-reliant to a fault.

"Where is my husband?" Her mother's crisp, clipped tones cut through all other conversations, "He promised he would be the one to wake me. Where is he?"

"I'm not sure." Someone mumbled, "We can check...Dr Carlyle?"

"Harry!" Laura gasped, striding to him, completely missing her daughter. "What is going on? Where's Martin?"

"You should come with me, Laura." Harry said soothingly, "I'm afraid there's some bad news."

Laura's stoicism did not fail her at the prospect of bad news, and though she paled, her features remained composed. "Tell me now, Harry."

"Mum?" Olivia finally piped up, "You should probably sit down. And not just because you only just woke up."

"Olivia?" Her mother jaw actually dropped a little, "What on earth are you doing here? What is going on?"

"It's...a long story." She smiled helplessly.

"Give me the summary, quick and clean."

"They woke me instead of dad. The Ark hit an energy cloud which caused problems and killed people. It's put Dad in a coma. Alec Ryder is dead. The Golden Worlds are polluted. We're at war with a hostile alien race called the Kett, it would seem. The Nexus experienced an uprising and we're the only Ark that made it here. That about sum it up, Harry?" Her tone was a little dry as her mother finally sank down onto a bed.

"Martin, will he ever...?" Laura's voice trailed off.

Harry nodded. "It's going to take time. Sara Ryder is in a similar state."