The Firefly (Mass Effect Andromeda)

Chapter 41

They all stared at one another, conflicted emotions passing over faces. "So they used the console, like the Pathfinder?" Vee finally said, "And they never came back?"

"It looks like it." Cora's voice was small.

"Well we have to do something!" Sara snapped. "I'll go after him!"

"You'll do no such thing!" Cora retorted, "That's exactly the trap the Angarans fell into, disappearing one after another."

"So you're suggesting we just abandon him." Olivia stood up, sick to the stomach. "That we walk away."

"Of course not!" Cora shouted, "But what can we do?" There were real tears in her eyes, Olivia noticed.

"There are only two people who can hypothetically use the console now." Nunok chimed in, "And that's Specialist Ryder and Liv. The gift has been all but lost over generations of Angara."

"You are not using that console, Liv." Nina's eyes were blazing, "I don't care if I have to knock you out and drag you off this planet, I am not letting you disappear like all of those Angaran. You've been through enough!"

"That's not your decision." Olivia stared at her, outraged.

"I am your older sister."

"Yes, and not my keeper!"

"Then I'll go!" Sara stood shoulder to shoulder with Olivia.

"No!" Cora tried to restore order. "We leave the scientists here to work on it, to try and find out what happened to Ryder. PeeBee you should stay and help too. You two are staying put on the Tempest until we know more." Sara bristled but Cora stared her down. "Your dad would never have forgiven me if I'd let you do this."

"My dad is dead!" Sara hissed, storming off.

Olivia, surrounded by people determined to keep her safe, sighed, turning and climbing from the ruins without a word.

"Make sure they stay on the Tempest." She heard Cora say.

Angry, frustrated, upset, she tried to find a quiet corner on the busy ship where she could sit alone. Instead, she found herself wandering into the Pathfinder's quarters. It was a huge, spacious cabin. She couldn't really picture Scott here, relaxing in luxury. He was always too busy.

She needed to get out of here. She needed to get down into those ruins and go after Scott. It was killing her, the thought of him trapped alone somewhere. He would never abandon her. He never had. The times she had been hurt and taken, he had moved heaven and earth to save her. She couldn't let him down.

"Miss Taylor." SAM activated, making her jump, feeling foolish and intrusive at being caught in Scott's cabin.

"I'm sorry, I know I shouldn't be here." She stammered out.

"Actually, I need to speak to you privately." The AI informed her. "You intend to go against the wishes of the others with Sara Ryder and attempt to rescue Scott. Is that correct?"

"...Yes."

"Sara must not go. She will not be able to return easily when she is cut off from me. You however will likely be able to get back due to the Firefly Implant. I do not wish to worry anyone unduly, but I need to warn you: Scott Ryder may already be dead. If not, he will be in a serious medical condition."

Olivia paled, "Why?"

"When Scott became Pathfinder, the process of our bonding was traumatic. He was dying, and I had to be installed deep within him in order to save his life."

"You're saying that, when cut off from you, he may have just died?" Her breaths seemed to shorten. Her legs, suddenly wobbly, folded, and she sank into a chair.

"That is a possibility, yes. You must be prepared, that you will be confronted with the sight of Scott's body."

Her eyes closed, tears stinging behind them. Don't cry, she told herself. "I don't think I can deal with that, SAM. I think if I got wherever that console goes, and I saw that, I don't think I could cope." Her chest hurt. "He can't be dead. He's Scott Ryder, for god's sake."

SAM was silent for a moment. "Scott always speaks very highly of you, Miss Taylor. He believes that you have more strength than you know. I agree."

Olivia took a deep breath, the tears flowing freely down her cheeks. "Thank you. How are we going to get me down there?"

"I'm afraid, Miss Taylor, I am going to have to lie."

"Can you do that?"

"...Yes. Usually, I would not. You will need supplies and armour. Take the headset on the desk. I will guide you." Uncertain, Olivia placed the headset on. "The route to the armoury is empty. Go now."

She hurried from the room, tremulous in her movements as she ran across the Tempest, pushing her way into the armoury, and taking the suit closest to her size. There were bags of rations and medkits already pre-packed to take out into the field. She also took ammo and other weapons, filling the already heavy bag.

"SAM, how am I supposed to get off the ship? Plus all of the others are already down there in the ruins?"

"Leave that to me, Miss Taylor. I will block communications on the ship, and inform the ground crew that a storm is imminent. They will retreat to the ship. You will have to be swift to escape without being seen. Wait one moment."

A few minutes later, she heard Cora returning with Lyora and Nunok. "I don't see any sign of a storm?" Lyora was complaining as the team went through the ship. "Are you sure SAM wasn't mistaken?"

"SAM is never wrong." Cora said briskly.

"Go now." SAM told her over the headset, "The ramp is still down. I am scrambling the outer sensors."

"Thank you." She replied softly. Moving with all the gear was hard work but she struggled down the ramp and off the ship, making unseen for the ruins.

It wouldn't be long before the others realised that they had been tricked, she supposed. The thought made her uneasy. Nina would be down here in a shot. She slung the bag over her shoulder as she reached the console.

"They are aware of the ruse, Miss Taylor, though only a few people have realised it was a lie. Your sister and friends are on their way down. I have asked Specialist Ryder to delay them." SAM told her, "If you are to go, it must be now."

"Thanks, SAM. I'll give your best to Scott when I find him."

She rested her hands on the console, allowing her Firefly implant to activate it.