Italics: Ryder's Thought bubble

His crystal blue eyes stared into mine, full of worry and love. His voice faded and my vision darkened. Leader, Pathfinder, Ryder, Alec, father, daddy was gone. Water trickled down my cheeks and I woke up.

My cabin was empty and my terminal flashed with the signs of new emails. I deftly brushed away the tears that seemed to always come. Looking in the mirror I sighed. Good morning bed head. A jacket was put on over a shirt and I lightly brushed at the tattoo I got with my brother back on Earth. I bitterly chuckled as my first thought was him being in a coma, lying on a bed motionless. I'll make Heleus better. For you little bro. The scar lacing from one side of my cheek across my nose and to the other cheek caught my eye and I winced. A reminder of that day. Of dad.

I walked out of the room and into the dim hallway outside, small lights on either side of the pathway. A content smile put on my face to ensure no one decided to question me now. Being a leader is difficult. Making sure everyone stands beside you is even harder. A quote from Dad. I climbed up the ladder and into the cock pit. Walking past Kallo and Suvi who were hard at work maintaining the Tempest's stability and direction. My footsteps tapped on the platform overlooking the rest of the galaxy. I stopped at the end and put in our co-ordinates.

Onaon, a galaxy I had yet to explore thoroughly. Now with authorization and a title it was available to me. Available to exploration and possible colonization. Excitement was an understatement in my case as I practically shook from enthusiasm at what was to come with this system. A planet that had a working vault completely sold me, and forced me, to come to this place. Dad would applaud me for being so enthusiastic to go into danger.

I felt my self lean backwards as the ship activated its mass effect core, stars becoming streaks of light around us. I stood there, drinking in the sight, but was quickly interrupted by Kallo's alarmed voice.

"We are on a collision course with unknown objects!", he shouted tapping frantically at his panel.

"Make corrections!", I ordered looking over at him, "SAM? You on this problem?"

"Collision is imminent", SAM said, voice uncomfortably indifferent.

"Then stop! Now SAM!"

Inertia pulled us all forward as the Tempest halted suddenly in its tracks. I looked up and saw an entire fleet of kett ships. Each shifting their attention, and their guns, towards us. My eyes and probably everyone else's eyes became as big as sauce plates.

"Crap," I whispered.

"Kett ships. A dozen? No, more," came Suvi's voice from beside me.

"They've got us pinned against the scourge," said Kallo, voice still panicked.

"They are scanning us, Pathfinder," informed SAM.

"Then scan back!", I yelled, slightly panicked. They can't have us. I won't let them have us.

The pounding of the ground team's feet went unnoticed as all the lights turned a blaring red and our systems were shut down. We were vulnerable and face to face with the entire kett fleet. I grit my teeth and my brows furrowed in frustration. Crap, crap, crap, crap.

An image flashed in front of me. A picture of a kett, different from the others. It didn't have bone shielding its chin and instead a set of horns created a halo behind its head, but it still had the huge pale eyes and gray skin like the other monsters we've met. It opened its mouth and began to speak.

"Where is the one that activated the Remnant?", It questioned, voice echoing within the now silent room.

"Name's Ryder. Pathfinder from the Initiative," I quickly added on, "and aspiring space pirate."

"You will come with me."

"We've lost navigation!", shouted Suvi with Kallo following her up, "We are being steered into the ship!"

My eyes narrowed. Can't take a joke huh? I leaned forward, "What the hell do you want?"

"I won't explain what you won't understand."

"Ryder," SAM's voice echoed within my skull, "I have almost regained control of the Tempest. I need a few more seconds."

"Try me. I actually know quite a bit, so why don't we compare notes? Space pirate to tyrant?", I said sarcasm dripping off every word I spoke.

"Enough", it boomed, "Your defiance is naïve and reckless-"

"-Hey! I'm not that naïve-"

"-This day marks the beginning of your greatness", the kett's image dissipated and the lights returned to their blue hue. I scoffed, "I was always great." Liam stifled a laugh at that.

I returned to the task at hand, "SAM? Next thought?"

"I have plotted a potential course through the scourge."

"Let's do this," I smiled madly.

The kett ship disappeared and was replaced by a cloud of rust and gray as we journeyed into the scourge. I cackled as we went through it. More like a coaster back on Earth than anything, so much fun. I heard an alarm of warning coming from Suvi's console.

"Suvi, Report."

"Enemy destroyed. Damage to aft sensors."

"Scourge, right?"

"Yes."

Isn't this getting exciting. The sounds blurred together as the scourge's exit became clear, largening every second that went by. Then there was no scourge and we were free from the spidery red prison.

"Yes!", Kallo celebrated, a bright smile on his face at our success.

Drack wearily laughed, "Nice work, kid."

"I agree, but who the hell was that guy?", I said looking around at everyone.

"Ryder!", Gil interrupted, "We've got trouble down here. We need to find a port now!"

I sighed, deflating a bit, "Wonderful. Suvi, any ideas as to where we are?"

Suvi tapped on her console, eyes darting back and forth as she examined all the data she was receiving, "Sensors are damages, but I think we are at the vault's co-ordinates."

"That's the best thing I've heard all day. Gil, give it what you can. We're settling down."

The Tempest glided towards the gray and red planet, smoothly descending despite its injuries. I tapped my fingers impatiently on the panel in front of me, the adrenaline rush from earlier still affecting me. Suvi's accented voice interrupted my taps, "We are being contacted."

I looked out the window and spotted a few shuttles, less bulky and a brighter color compared to the kett vessels. "They don't seem to be kett, but that doesn't matter when we need to land. Open a comm."

"Tove Jagalesh dove!", It commanded through the comms.

I frowned. Am I an alien magnate or what? As if one race of aliens trying to kill us wasn't enough, let's add another! I shook my head in an effort to clear my thoughts.

Taking a deep breath in I began another first contact. "We come from another galaxy. Our intentions are peaceful," so long as one of your bullets doesn't enter my head.

"Paav, nele set do", came a female voice.

"They sent us a Nav point."

"Set us down then."

Three of the cruisers escorted us down and past the dark clouds of their world. A bright patch of green, blue, and white appeared through the window that seemed so similar to Earth it hurt. I slowly backed away from my console, turning towards my ground team. "We need access into that vault."

"Please," Vetra said, arms crossed at her torso, "You're not really going down there on your own."

"Sure, I can," I responded smirking, "I mean you guys will save me when worse comes to worse…Right?"

Vetra looked at me unconvinced.

I sighed, rolling my eyes, "It's my job as Pathfinder to make first contact and give a good impression of the citizens on the Nexus and otherwise. Bringing a team of trained and capable aliens, some with supernatural abilities, with me spells trouble. I'm doing it on my own."

"Have fun. The most important thing ever," Liam added on, "No pressure."

"Well, if my 'knights in shining armor' can't save me when things get ugly, if I get eaten alive-even if it's hilarious-please, destroy the vids," I saluted with a grin and jogged down through the Tempest and out the exit.

I raised my hands in the air, palms away from the people and towards me, in an act of a peaceful surrender. Several soldiers jogged up to me, all in a sea green uniform and the barrels of their guns pointed at me. They had a structure similar to that of the Quarians, their legs bent the same way, but heavier built. Females had narrower shoulders and were generally more feminine looking with a smaller frame and height, while the males had larger shoulders, a smaller waist, and a general bigness about them. A male walked forward and spoke to me in its foreign tongue, then began scanning me.

"Need me to take my shoes off?", I asked feigning innocence.

The led me forward towards a crowd of people in more casual clothing at the edge of the bridge once the scan was complete. A female came forward, allowing me to further study them. This particular one had a sort of marking on her head, maybe a signal of status. She, and the people around her, had large black eyes and blue irises with a cat like pupil in the middle. Her coloring was a combination of a light blue face, but a dark blue skin on the back of her head. The others came in an array of colors like green, blue, purple, and tan. They have three toes and three fingers. The females have rounder features and bigger lips while the males were more angular with thinner lips.

The woman in front of me spoke up, interrupting my examination, "I'm Paraan Shie, governor of Aya. We are the Angara."

I visibly relaxed when she used the same language a me, a language barrier never helped diplomats. "I'm the Pathfinder with the Initiative-"

"Yes," she interrupted, "You crossed dark space. I've heard of your journey."

I was confused for a moment then remembered the rebellion on the Nexus and the people being thrown off board. They had first contact with the Angara, but not on this planet. A purple skinned angaran man strode out from beside her wearing a light blue…Poncho.

"Jaal, I have this in hand," she stated a bit irritated.

He held up his hand, silencing her. "Evfra saw the ship come in and sent me to find out what's going on," Jaal responded now staring at me. He walked down the steps seemingly radiating superiority and confidence. Given that he could talk so plainly with a governor my assumption should be correct.

"She's a human from another galaxy," continued Shie, ignoring his order. "A Pathfinder."

Once at the bottom, I discovered he was a good five inches above me. Pride kicked in as I was forced to look up to him rather than straight at him. I crossed my arms trying not to show my indignation at the situation as he was a few inches away from my face.

"Aya is hidden, protected. What do you want?", he asked without reservation. He cares enough about his people to go within stabbing distance of an alien.

I gathered my thoughts, "We didn't know what we'd find her honestly. But, we are open to sharing what we know if you are."

His eyes roamed my face, looking for deceit, "Honesty? Honesty would be a good start."

Jaal moved away from me and I relaxed watching his retreating form. "I'll tell Evfra. He'll be waiting for you in his office at Resistance headquarters. I'll meet you there."

Once he finally left Shie spoke up again, "I'll accompany you through our city. Your crew will stay on your ship. Follow me."

I walked up the steps and to her side. Then we went forward as if on a stroll with aliens looking at me like I was terrifying or incredible. My boots thudded on the tiled ground while her feet where silent. The waterfalls roared around us with the crowds' voices and the flora was bright, but unfamiliar. Did they just ask to put me in a cage and have me be "examined" by their scientists? I shivered at the thought of me banging on the bars of a cage shrieking like a wild monkey.

"The kett must have hit your people hard for this kind of… Negativity towards aliens," I commented.

"You are also a new being that we know nothing about." Fair point.

"I don't want," or need, "trouble."

"Then keep moving," she responded hostility dripping off her words.

I awkwardly rubbed at my tattoo as we continued on our trip. The silence was tense and only SAM broke it by coming into my thoughts again. "None of the local flora register."

"No duh," I murmured.

"What?", questioned my companion.

"Oh," busted, "Your… city is beautiful."

Nice save. "Thank you. You're the first outsider to ever see it."

Another silence crept in. Come on Sara, think!

"What if Evfra doesn't like me?"

"He won't", Bummer, "but you need to earn his trust."

"He's responsible for everyone's safety. I know how that feels."

"You're a leader."

"Trying to be."

We walked up some steps to a giant white door with plants on each side of it. Shie stopped and faced me, "This is the Resistance headquarters. Evfra is waiting inside."

I nodded my "thank you" and she returned it. I walked inside the white room, to see my favorite, and only, poncho wearing alien talking to a younger angara.

"…don't get kicked out Moraan, not because of them."

"But you're telling me to be weak!"

"No, I'm telling you to be strong through you're cunning and heart. Okay?"

I stood there waiting with crossed arms and my leg bent into a more comfortable position. The recruit began to walk away, but was quickly stopped by Jaal. What now?

"Hey…", he warned causing the recruit to look down at the weapon he carried, guilt written in his actions. He turned and set the rifle back in Jaal's hands.

"It really is the best one in the Resistance."

"I know."

Straightening up I walked forward towards Jaal. The recruit, Moraan, walked at me. We made sure not to touch each other and instead stared each other down with curiosity. Jaal seemed to notice this.

"Our experience with the kett make us naturally distrustful of aliens," he said, trying to explain everyone's reactions to me.

"I couldn't tell with the people talking about experiments, cages, and even more lovely messages," I said sarcastically. Diplomat Ryder, condemning a new alien species without even properly knowing them. Possibility of getting shot: 99%.

He seemed confused for a moment then continued, "When the Archon-"

"-Archon? You mean that really weird kett who has superiority issues? Looks like the other kett, but has little horns that make a halo?"

He nodded, a bit annoyed at my interruption, and started over, "When the Archon came to Heleus, he demolished our sovereign state. Took what he wanted as if we were nothing," Abhor seems too soft a word to describe what he feels, "Now the kett mercilessly abduct angara. Often we never see our people again." Jaal took a deep breath and regained his calmer composure, but I was still very unsettled by what he said.

"Come this way. Evfra is waiting," he said turning away.

"Wait," I said grabbing his shoulder, but quickly drawing my hand back as he glared down at me, "the kett kidnap you, steal your people?"

Jaal seemed to become resolute, "And the Resistance fights them every day with everything we can."

"How?"

He cut me off again by turning away, "You should save you questions for Evfra."

I sighed softly and we walked into a large room complete with huge screens that depicted images of Angara, the planet surface, and the Onaon system. Several angara tapped at consoles at the foot of the screens, others raced around the room carrying supplies and information. A lone angara stood by the window overlooking Aya's grand city. He wore an icy blue scarf and his arms were casually crossed.

"Evfra, this is one of the aliens from the Mill-key way. A Pathfinder," Heh, that's cute. Mill-key Way. Wonder how he saws other words like milk shake or tequila.

"Pathfinder," Evfra turned to me. A scar went from the tip of his forehead done to the bottom of his chin, Impressive. "It's an aggressive move coming to Aya."

"It wasn't meant to be like that. My ship was in urgent need of repairs and we needed to land. To add on this ship needed to be operational in order for me to help my people on the Nexus. There are thousands of them and our food is beginning to dwindle. If I don't get them a home they will die from starvation or from each other."

"Of course. I feel for you and your people," Then help us you stubborn-, "Pathfinder. Never mind how you even found us. Why are you here?"

"On a planet we call Eos," I began a bit irritated at telling this story again, "We discovered ancient technology and brought it back online."

Pause for dramatic effect, "It stabilized the planet's environment."

"Remnant. Resistance intelligences can support its claim."

My eye twitched at the use of the word "it". "If I'm correct there is a vault, an ancient technology, on Aya that is different and I need to look inside of it."

"You're right there is a vault," Evfra confirmed. "But it was shut years ago and the entrance hidden. We can't help you."

My jaw tightened. Now what? Scour the planet until I find it? No, I wouldn't even be able to get out of the city, least of all the port because of Evfra stopping me.

"The Moshae could," Jaal interjected, "She's the most revered scientist and elder. She knows this vault."

"But now the kett have her and our rescue attempts failed. She's lost to us. And you," He ended coldly, glaring at Jaal.

"Is there a way I can do it without her?", I began grasping at straws, "I just need-"

"You have no idea what you're dealing with. The Angara learned years ago the perils of messing with vaults. So, did the kett for that matter. We're done here," Evfra concluded.

I felt myself deflate for a moment then the pressure of rising anger built in my chest. He honestly thinks I'll stop there? This jerk knows nothing and cares about my people as much as he does the dirt on his boot! I bit my cheek as a string of curses and yells nearly fell out of my mouth.

"I feel…" Jaal began, drawing our attention to him, "Evfra, what this alien has to say is extraordinary. The Moshae would want us to be brave and not let this chance pass."

"Jaal you talk too much", Evfra sighed.

"Let me assess this alien," Wait, what? "I'll be your eyes. I know you can spare me."

"Go if you want, but when she tries to kill you be prepared to strike first," Great. A new team mate that would kill me if he wanted too. Evfra turned and walked away from us.

"I'm Jaal Ama Darav. I'll be your envoy through Angara space."

I nodded my head, "Thank you for trusting me."

"I don't. But I can always kill you in your sleep."

"Nice to know you have a sense of humor. That'll get you places," I smirked, "Or killed. Depends on how good and annoying you are."

He smiled slightly and we continued our trek back to the Tempest.

A.N.

Technically speaking this isn't my first fanfic, it's the first fanfic I've posted though. I've written over 10 and scrapped them and this is the only one I've stuck with. I'm happy for criticism and for spelling errors and the like. Don't know my schedule as of yet, but I'll post more chapters once I finish typing them.

-MeanE

PS I don't own anything besides my characters personality. Everything else (worlds, main plot line, characters, etc.) belong to the Mass Effect series and its creators.