The Firefly (Mass Effect Andromeda)

Chapter 62

Olivia stared at Sara Ryder, sitting blank faced inside the chamber. There was a bed and a chair, but it was a lifeless room. It was a cell.

"Sara!" She called out. Her friend's head turned ever so slightly but there was no light in her eyes, no flicker in her expression. "I know you can hear me. You have to be strong."

She knew what it was like to be trapped in her own head, to have no control over your actions even if they led to torture and pain.

"I know what it's like." Olivia beseeched her. "She did this to me too. I know what it's like to have your thoughts twisted and turned. You have to fight it. Please, Sara. You're not forgotten."

A small tear beaded and trickled down from Sara's eye.

The infirmary door slid open. "I heard you'd been hurt, Firefly." Kendra's voice said. "I see you've found Sara."

Olivia whirled around, fury in her eyes. "How can you do this to people!" She snapped, "You're a monster!"

"It was a necessary evil." Kendra said, glancing at her audience. "And something I did with regret. Amira, Dr Raleigh, could you leave us please." It was an order, not a request, however politely she phrased it. She looked at Olivia after they left with sympathy. "How's your head?"

"Sore." Olivia replied with a shrug. "How was yours after you used one of these consoles?"

"Well it almost killed me," Kendra replied wryly. "So not good."

"You realise that even though you surround me with all of these nice people, I still hate you." Olivia told her. They were very calm, very civilised in their confrontation.

"For now." Kendra smiled. "What if I release your sister?"

Olivia's eyes widened. "Why would you do that?"

"Because I'm not what you paint me. I'm making a civilisation here."

"Kendra, you basically told Scott and I that you were creating your own kingdom."

"That doesn't mean you can't all be assimilated into it. You're all talented people."

"People will realise. They'll see you're the dictator and realise they're trapped and rebel." Olivia warned.

"No they won't." Kendra was calm. "And if they do, it'll be too late."

"Too late for what?" Realisation struck. "You can't possibly be planning to control everyone. That's impossible."

"I can keep producing parts here. I have the plans. I can keep producing them quietly, with one or two trusted helpers. And then have perhaps one or two surgical staff in my trust. It'll be a gradual process."

"That's insane."

"It was my goal back in the Milky Way when I worked for Cerberus. I'm just fulfilling that goal." She laughed at Olivia's expression. "Enjoy your freedom, while it lasts. Keep up the good behaviour, and you'll see your sister in the morning."

Olivia walked back to her quarters, memorising the way. Scott was standing outside of her room, pacing. There was another man standing with him, one of Scott's mercenary friends. "See!" He said, "I told you she'd be fine."

"Swanson told me he'd seen you taken away on a stretcher." Scott's face was taut with fear. "I thought...I thought she might have..." He gripped her arms, staring into her eyes with an intensity that frightened her. He seemed to examine her, and it took a moment to realise what he meant.

He thought Kendra might have done something to her brain.

"I saw her, but she didn't hurt me. Not this time." She promised. "I fixed the food processors for a while and the strain made me faint."

Scott was silent for a moment. Swanson tactfully walked away. "You have to stop this!" Scott said furiously. "You going to end up brain damaged at this rate."

"I'm fine!" She insisted. "I didn't have a choice here. Besides it worked out well. Come on, let's walk."

They strolled away from her room, which Olivia was still convinced was wired with eavesdropping devices. "What did you find out?" She'd piqued Scott's interest.

"I know where Sara is for one thing. I told her to stay strong and I think she heard me." She squeezed Scott's arm. Second, Kendra has agreed to release Nina from cryo."

"That seems...odd."

"It's a bribe but I'm going to take it." Olivia responded. "I want my sister back."

"Anything else you risking your health has gained?"

"Yes." Olivia grinned. "A plan."

It was what she'd seen at the console that had given her the idea. The food processors could only stay running for a week or so, given that only one pipe was taking all the strain. Eventually an expedition would have to go down there, to fight the Creepers and burn the nest. One of the oxygen pipes had been cracked too, though it hadn't collapsed the system. If they could fight their way through the Creepers, they could secretly roam the base through the pipe.

Oxygen went everywhere. They might be able to find Sara, get the others out of cryo, all without being seen.

Scott stared at her. "You are something else. Let's do it."