The Archon Arc

Aftermath

The Archon arched his back, trembling as the energy overloaded. His hands frantic as he pulled the connections off his back, falling towards sensible height all the while. His grunts of pain sounded like sweet melody to Ryder's ears. "Arghhhhh!"

She pressed her hands down harder hoping it would hasten the process, ignoring the waves of agony drowning her.

The domed platform buzzed with white energy, tendrils of energy was arcing all over. The chamber shuddered and rumbled as the platform shifted. Sparks fell as the energy engulfed the Architect. It gave a piercing screech before falling unceremoniously to the ground. Ryder released her hold on the console and collapsed to the floor. Her lungs working double time. Ryder pressed her ball of her hand into her eye, trying hard to hold herself together. She closed her eyes as she took shuddering breath after breath. Eventually, her breathing evened out. She picked herself up as the others caught up to her.

"Are you all right?" Cora asked, the first to reach her.

Ryder nodded. "I'm fine," she said, though her shaking hands betrayed her. "Just tired."

She turned her attention to the Archon who hung limply on the thick wires. The last one snapped and his body fell. There was a very audible smack as the Archon landed. "Finally!" Ryder said. "I did want him to shut up so badly."

The team sniggered and laughed. Then, SAM voice came through her omni tool. "Pathfinder," it said. "Meridian is online."

Her heart lifted to hear SAM's voice again. "SAM," she said. "Are you all right?"

"I am well, Pathfinder." SAM said. "Were you concerned over my well being?"

"Of course." Ryder exclaimed, wondering how was she going to explain concern to it.

"You're... You're like a sibling to me, a twin even." she said, tapping her Pathfinder implant at the side of her head. "You live in my head, Scott doesn't."

"Technically I am in SAM node on the Hyperion."

Ryder laughed. "You get what I mean."

"Actually, Pathfinder I don't"

"I'll explain it to you another time."

The white energy subsided and the chamber came to live. Humming of machineries hidden filled the air. The energy spread through the central platform and travelled up along the sides and walls, lighting everything up as it went.

----

"You asshole!" Ryder shouted when Scott told her the ruse SAM and Scott played on the Archon.

"You could have let me know!" she continued. "I was worried sick."

Scott laughing, dancing out of her fists aimed at him. "SAM was the one who suggested it. He told me that he has been as your buffer when you interface with the Remnant." Scott explained. "So if I acted like I was in pain, the Archon wouldn't actually draw too much and actually kill me."

Ryder frowned and narrowed her eyes at him. "I guess that makes sense."

They exited to the cheers of all the allies. She saw the Moshae, the Outcasts with Sloane in the lead, Morda and the krogans of New Tuchanka, of course Rix, Theris and Raeka and their team. Many looked injured but all of them had smiles if not out right grins on their faces. Ryder looked at the renewed vigour that was in the eyes of the assembled. Lexi took a protesting Scott aside to scan him for wounds while Suvi came forward. "The word is out, everyone's elated but the Nexus wants to know what's next," she said.

Next? Oh my fucking god, I haven't had time for a shower and they want to know what's next? "What do I tell them?" Suvi prompted.

"Tell them, we're home," she said.