With Arms Wide Open

Chapter 1

Ryder,

Need I remind you of  your responsibilities as Pathfinder? The necessity of initiative outposts on ALL sustainable planets are essential to our survival. The Nexus simply does not have the room or the resources to accompany the constant arrival of allies as well as civilian mouths in need of feeding, due to your bleeding heart for the less fortunate. So, I don't care what it takes for you to appease the exiles in Kadara Port. Just get it done. Failure is not an option.

Addison

Ryder scoffed, shaking her head as she leaned over the desk in her quarters, reading over the email a second time. "Remind me of my duties as Pathfinder?" She kicked the chair beside her, sending it across the room like a spinning cyclone. "I have been busting my ass for weeks in this trash heap! I mean, shit, when I got here every body of water was on fire!"

"Your success with closing the vault has aided Kadara exponentially." Sam agreed.

"Exactly! And guess who did that? Not that bit-!" She growled, biting the inside of her cheek, trying to refrain the slew of profanities that would undoubtedly somehow make their way back to whom they were meant for.

"I don't have to guess. I know it was you Ryder. I was there." Sam said as she silently counted to three in her head, clicking out of the email.

"I can't decide who's worse, Addison or Director Tann." She sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose between her fingers.

"I believe their harsh dispositions are due predominantly to fear. On our last visit to the Hyperion, both Addison and Director Tann were showing extreme levels of adrenaline that seemed to spike when confronted by the possibility of mission failure." Sam said.

She pushed off the desk, crossing her arms over her chest as she turned to the miniature Sam node beside her terminal. "Funny, I don't recall scanning them?" She said, thinking back.

"I did." Sam said, bluntly.

"What? How?" She asked, slightly disturbed.

"With the Hyperion grid locked into the Nexus, I am integrated into its control systems and therefore able to scan freely. However, when we are out in the field your scanner is needed in order for me to perform my duties adequately." Sam said.

She listened to the holographic orb as it turned slowly, pixilating with every word. "I'm surprised that's allowed, with all the fear still surrounding A.I. and all." She said.

"I am not entirely certain that they are aware. However it is part of my programming to learn. I-"

"Wait a minute! You're programmed into the Tempest." She said, cutting him off.

"I am."

"Are you scanning people at random here too?"

"I have scanned everyone aboard in times of extreme duress to ensure health was stable and within acceptable limits. Should anything of concern arise I alert Dr. T'Perro for further analysis."

"Huh...well I suppose if it is to ensure everyone's health, I guess I don't see a problem." She said, mostly to herself.

"Actually Ryder, this discussion brings up a course of conversation I have wished to discuss with you." Sam said.

There wasn't even the slightest influx in his tone, but those words alone were enough to peak her interest as well as a give her a disturbing uncertainty. It was usually her seeking his assistance, but every now and then he had a few questions of his own. Most were completely logical in regards to the human response, trying to understand how to be more human as his creation had always intended, but sometimes they had a tendency to be quite...embarrassing. "What is that, Sam?" She asked, cautiously.