The Firefly (Mass Effect Andromeda)

Chapter 46

Scott stirred, opening his eyes. They felt heavy, as if he'd slept for years. It reminded him of the sensation he'd experienced coming out of cryo. Putting out his hand, he felt a hard cover over him, sealing him into an unknown pod. "Where am I?" He murmured, a little panicked, "SAM?"

There was no answer.

"SAM?" He asked again, "Help me out here!" Silence. His feelings of unease intensified in a crippling fear. He was cut off from SAM. That meant no using any Remnant technology, no helpful updates and no contact with the Tempest.

He pushed at the lid of his pod with hard, frustrated motions, kicking it in protest. It didn't budge. He took another breath, trying to calm down. It felt similar to the cryo pods on the Hyperion. Obviously wasn't the same, but he remembered Olivia telling him about the failsafes her father had installed in them, in case someone woke before their time. Perhaps this was similar. He traced his fingers across the edge, and found a tiny groove. Pushing at it, there was a click as the mechanism activated and the pod slid open.

His legs wobbled as he found his footing, looking around the clearly Remnant room in bewilderment. What had happened? They'd gone looking for Kendra in the ruin and found her bag by the only working console and so he'd used it.

His chest had felt as if it were exploding, his heart ceasing to beat. He remembered that savage pain, and then...he'd woken in the pod.

"Is there anyone out there?" He called out, his voice cracking.

There was another figure in a pod. A frown crossed his face at the sight of Kendra Croasdale, slumped there. What was going on? Her chest rose and fell. Alive, he thought.

He crossed the room slowly, stepping out into a corridor. He took tentative steps down it, increasing until he found himself running from room to room, looking for anything or anyone familiar.

It was vast, he slowly realized, a Remnant complex larger even than the vaults he had explored across the cluster. "Cora? Drack? Liam? Anyone?" He yelled. He sighed, "What did that console do?" His armor was gone, along with his weaponry. He was wandering, lost and defenseless through a stronghold perhaps filled with enemies.

There were vines trailing across the ground, twisted and dark, and amber pods lying on the ground, some suspended from the walls. They were like beehives or cocoons or something, alien and insect-like.

Something moved around the corner, a clicking, grating sound of metal. He felt as if his heart was about to stop. He had nothing but his fists. Back off, he told himself, no point in getting yourself killed.

The creature appeared. It was huge, scuttling on six legs like an insect. It was plated, screeching with each movement with a humanoid head rising above the body, bald and pale, baring razor sharp teeth. "What in all the universe?" Scott whispered in genuine terror.

Horror paralyzed him for a moment.

"Get down!" A voice from behind shouted. On instinct, he obeyed, dropping to his knees as a pistol opened fire above his head. "You know, Evra, this would be much easier with the weapons I brought."

"Apologies." An ancient Angaran voice croaked, "Here." Something else flew over Scotts head, bursting into flame as it struck the monster, the fire white hot, and enveloping the creature. It screamed an unearthly wail, staggering back, before collapsing.

"Nice toy." Olivia said behind him, impressed. Scott spun around, getting to his feet clumsily. It was really her, standing there. She had no armour either, and only a pistol, but it was definitely Olivia, scars and all, red hair in a ponytail and bright blue eyes shining at him. Her lips curved into a smile, "I am so glad to see you awake."

"Thanks for the rescue." He said dazedly, glancing between her, the creature and the Angaran behind her. "I think I'm in some sort of nightmare. And I don't seem capable of waking up."

She stepped up, holstering her pistol, putting her hands firmly on his arms. "This is no dream. You're really here, and so am I. I came to rescue you."

"Where is here?" Scott asked uncertainly, "I don't seem to remember..."

"I'll explain soon." She glanced back at her companion. "I'm just so relieved that you're alive." Emotion clouded her expression for a moment. "SAM thought I was going to come through and find your body."

He hugged her, on impulse really, pulling her close against him. She looked tired he thought, her leg dragging a bit. She squeezed him tightly, her face nestled against his chest. An unnamed emotion surged through him. "Not that I'm not insanely grateful to see you, Liv, but what is going on?"

"This is Evra." She gestured to the man with her, "He's lived here for a long time. It's a huge Remnant complex, the same one you used the console in. We're just...in the past."

"What?" Scott looked at her incredulously.

"Like centuries back, in a kind of frozen moment." She spoke so earnestly, "Evra explains it better. Though we should get out of here, before another Creeper comes." The Angaran nodded.

He let himself be led by the two of them, Olivia and the Angaran. They returned to the room where Kendra lay. They sat and discussed what had happened.

"You were mad to come after me." Scott shook his head. "We don't how or if we can get back."

"I wasn't just going to leave you." She smiled, "Sara would never have forgiven me."

"I'm going to try and find Yoval." Evra said softly. "I'll leave you two alone."

Finally alone, the two of them sat together, shoulders touching. "I can't believe you risked coming here for me." Scott said softly.

"I couldn't just let you die." She replied.

"SAM told you I'd already be dead." Scott glanced at her, "And you came anyway."

"You'd have done the same if it were me."

He laughed softly. "We seem destined to keep saving each other." He placed his hand over hers, tentatively, "But you're right."

She didn't move her hand away, instead smiling. He found himself caught in the brightness of her eyes, the curve of her neck, the red hairs slipping messily onto her face. "I'm just so glad." Her voice was a murmur, "And we'll find a way back from this."

"I've never met anyone like you, Olivia Taylor." He breathed. He leaned in and their lips suddenly crashed together, hard and fierce and passionate. His hands tangled in the silk of her hair, breathing in her scent. Her hands were pressed against his chest.

They broke away from the kiss, panting, and surprised smiles on their faces. "I didn't expect..." She said, her cheeks flushing scarlet.

"You have no idea how long I've wanted to do that. It just never seemed a good time."

"I'm glad you did." Olivia responded.

"You mean something to me. You mean a lot. I think about you all the time." He flushed in turn. "I think I need you in my life. I need you or all I'll go mad."

"You already have me. And my heart." Olivia replied, her fingers tracing his face. "You've had it a long time."