(Deep inside the vault)

'Pathfinder this looks to be the source, all conduits converge here.’

“This must be the heart,” Ryder walked toward the console.”

“I've never seen anything like it,” Cora amazed that this was under them, under Eos this whole time.

Ryder placed her hand on the console, shutting it down.

'System lockdown is disabled. The atmosphere processor should return to full operation’

Peebee came over comms, “Ryder you fixed the lockdown didn't you? The whole place is lighting up, the whole place is off the charts,” some noise disturbed Peebee, “really really off the charts.”

“But if it's back online we should be good to…” the noise now has Ryder and the others attention.

“Ryder!” Vetra now was yelling. This red mist was coming at them from behind.

“GO!” Ryder yells as they take off down the now open path that was blocked when they came in, “Peebee get back to the entrance!”

‘I saw it, what is that thing?’ Peebee still over comms confused from the other room.

“Don't risk it, just go now!” Ryder sprinted away from the mist back toward the gravity well they came from but that path was blocked, they had to go a different route.

'It would be wise to run Pathfinder’

“I know SAM!” Always the obvious it seems with him she thought as she sprinted from death cloud yet again. The air down here was getting harder to breathe, they had to get to the door fast.

“Look another gravity well!” Vetra pointed out.

“We don't know where it leads!” Cora trying to be logical.

“It leads away from here, I’m taking it,” Ryder jumped into the well and it went up. When they reached the top Ryder could see the door, “you two go! Peebee where are you? Hello!”

There was scuffling and laser shooting behind her, she turned to she the Asari flipped over one of the remnants blast walls and shot down an Observer with hardly any effort, “Ah it's right on our heels!”

“It's not moving, find an override,” Cora and Vetra had been trying to open the door and couldn't.

Ryder looked around and noticed a console that was about to be engulfed by the red cloud 'well shit’ and she ran back.

“RYDER!” Cora yelled after her.

Ryder placed her hand out over the console, “Come on!” Just as the cloud is completely around her it evaporated and disappeared.

'Vault restart complete’ SAM informed them.

“That was...Talk about a rush,” Peebee came running over.

“Nothing like out running death.” Ryder said leaning over the console trying not to show how shaken up she was that she was scared and wanted to cry a little.

“There ya go.” Peebee came over and hit her shoulder.

'Atmosphere processor is online, pulling up the last activity.’

“Is that the Heleus cluster?” Peebee walked around.

“Yeah,” Ryder stood up, “ Here we are. That's Eos.” Looking at this light up map around her, “if that light is us, then all these points could be vaults on other worlds. Dormant like this one.”

“Maybe but why is there a whole network of them, what's it all for?” Peebee wondered as she walked into the map.

“This tech can create observers from nowhere, or ravage a whole planet and that's just what we've seen?” Ryder walked to another part of the map.

“That one we saw on Habitat 7 could have malfunctioned.” Cora noted.

“Is that what these builders we're trying to do, make worlds habitable?” Ryder wondered.

“Hey look there,” Peebee touched a piece of the map, “it's different, maybe it's active? we have to go see.”

“SAM mark it on our charts we need more to go on. Let's go I need some fresh air.” They gathered what they could from the map and left the vault.

They met back up with Drack outside the vault and he reluctantly decided to join the team so they made their way back to the Tempest.

Five boarded the Tempest together, when three had left that was going to be a change for everyone but at least Lexi could breathe now because she didn't have to revive or heal anyone after the vault. She also was slightly excited there was a Krogan on board, on the other hand the Asari that also accompanied them she wasn't sure about.

“Drack, Peebee see Lexi for a physical!...Good meeting everyone.” Ryder came walking down from the meeting room and bumped into Lexi, “oh sorry.”

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

“Oh it's alright...Actually I had meant to talk to you, could you do me a favor?” Lexi noticed there was a new abrasion running down the left side of Ryder's face, she pulled Ryder over to a chair and pulled out her medical kit to take a look at it.

“Hmm,” she let Lexi walk her over and she obediently sat down knowing Lexi saw the mark and she didn't feel like fighting her about it.

“Could you keep an eye out on Drack for me? But don't let him know I asked you too?”

“Yeah, of course.” staying professional.

“Thank you Ryder.” Lexi finished cleaning Ryder's face, “I want to see you in a day or so to check that,” She watched Ryder stand to leave the Medbay, “oh and it appears we have a stowaway.”

“You mean Peebee?” Ryder stood up to head to her room.

“You don't need a Psych degree, to know that one has commitment issues.” Lexi smiled and let her leave. Ryder wondered what Lexi's reasons were if she could judge others so harshly on commitment. For now she had other things to concentrate on like dealing with this newly forming scar across her face thanks to Peebee...And Tann.

They were on their way back to the Nexus, they had accomplished what most didn't think they would...An Outpost on Eos. Ryder had already seen Addison on Eos now she needed to settle the bet with Tann.

Hour or two passed she finally was done talking to the higher ups and decided she had avoided seeing her brother long enough she had to see if there were any improvements to his condition. She was greeted by Harry in the cryo bay who filled her in on things there on Hyperion with him and her brother, “how is he?”

“Ryan is doing well, his vitals are good. No change in his condition I'm afraid right now. But I'll keep you posted.”

“Thank you Harry.” She smiled at him and took a seat next to her brother, she felt this is where she needed to be for the next few hours...No one needed her.

Lexi went to drop by cryo bay to see Harry since they were on the Nexus and she didn't know how long they'd be staying or be coming back, she noticed Natalie had fallen asleep sitting by her brother. Natalie looked exhausted, she needed a break from everything and she was due for an evaluation...Since she avoided her last one. Lexi rounded the corner to Harry's office, “Lexi, how are you?” He embraced his friend.

“Tired, the Pathfinder, and team keeps me on my toes, and now I have two more to look after.”

“So I've heard, a Krogan and another Asari. Bet that got you going.” They both sat down.

Lexi about rolled her eyes at him, “The Krogan is nearly 1400 yrs old and missing parts, the old bastard…” she had a smile for that, “the Asari don't get me started on her.” Harry could feel the tension that brought.

“That bad huh?” Harry drank his coffee he wanted to comment and laugh at his friend, that she was riled up over this, but he left it alone for now.

“She's immature, delusional, thinks I'm uncaring, and she's been avoiding me.” No one has ever ruffled her feathers as bad as Pelessaria B'Sayle can, how does she let her get to her?

“I know that isn't true, you wouldn't be this worked up if it was...You've just always enjoyed your work, and like you said she's probably immature. To her we're old.” That made Lexi laugh, “it was good seeing you.”

“Thank you Harry,” Lexi took her leave. On her way out she noticed Ryder wasn't there anymore. As she walked to the tram she could see her slowly walking to it, “Ryder you ok?”

“Hmm oh Lexi...Yeah, just tired...Went and saw Ryan, must of dozed off *yawn* didn't realize how tired I was,” she was barely standing upright .

“It's been a long few days you should take a rest,” Lexi was actually concerned something more was going on.

“I think I might, thanks.” They get off the tram, “Good night Lexi.”

“Goodnight Ryder.” She almost wanted to follow her and make sure she got back to the Tempest, but instead she went up to her apartment and called it a night as well.

Ryder even though she was tired knew she wouldn't sleep thought about going back to the Tempest, she stood at the dock port looking at her ship. Then decided maybe a walk would do her good, she heard the beating music of Vortex, which was the local bar on the Nexus and decided she would go in.

“Ryder!” Liam, Drack, and Peebee were at a table so she joined them, “you look like Shit.”

“Well thank you Kosta, much appreciated.” Ryder took a seat in the booth, exhausted.

“It's ok kid, you look better than him any day.” Drack raised his drink to her.

“Aww thanks Drack.” Ryder laid her head on Drack’s shoulder.

“You ugly backstabbing pjak!” Liam hit Drack.

“What’ll it be Ryder? You look like you need a kick,” Peebee asked

“At this point I don't care,” she took what the Asari handed her and the four of them sat there enjoying each other's company.

0200 Lexi was on the Tempest restocking her supplies before they left and she heard commotion outside across the hall, sounded like drunken singing...Liam, Peebee..And Drack that's interesting, she peeked her head out to see. They were walking up the ramp of the Tempest, Drack was carrying something, no not something someone...Ryder.

“Is Ryder alright?” Lexi jumped to Drack's side

“Chill out Matriarch, she’s just passed out asleep.” Peebee degraded Lexi, even in a drunk state Peebee was rude.

“We were all just having some fun, then Ryder said she was tired and fell asleep,” Liam confirmed it, “no harm no foul.”

“It's alright doc, she'll be fine.” Drack tried reassuring her.

“Drack will you take her to one of my medbeds please, I want to keep an eye on her for the time being at least give her an IV drip to absorb some of the alcohol intake.” Drack did as she asked and Lexi follows behind, “Thank you Drack.”

“You're a good one doc.” Drack said and left her to care for Ryder. Lexi attached the IV drip to Ryder and watched her vitals a moment, looking over at her as she slept.

Ryder awoke to the sound of her own heartbeat. She was laying on one of the Medbay beds and not at all to sure how she got here. She sat up and noticed an IV in her arm and just sat there a moment, placing her head in her hands...She let herself come to this, she was better than this.

“I see you're up,” Lexi came walking in. Ryder glanced up at her but didn't respond back to her. “How are you feeling?”

“Like I was ran over by a truck,” Ryder moved to the edge of the bed and tried to stand. She felt the dizziness overwhelm her and sat back down.

“Take it easy,” Lexi was there to make sure she didn't fall, “I gave you some fluid but you're still lacking in hydration and you need to rest like I told you earlier before you went drinking. You're exhausted Natalie.”

“I know…” Her I know, was weak, a trembling sound came out of her, like she wanted to cry. She curled back up on the bed and let herself have a small cry.

Lexi wasn't sure how to really handle this, professional she should leave her to have her moment but she just couldn't seem to pull herself away to do that. She sat down on the bed by her, and rubbed a hand down her arm, “Do you want to talk about what's going on? How you're feeling?”

Ryder wanted to, but she wasn't sure how. She felt bad she let anyone see her like this yet again but if anyone was to see her like this at least it was Lexi, “I'm just tired, and I'm not sure if I'm doing the right thing...Or how to be strong for everyone...All the time...It's just taking a toll and catching up,” she sat up and looked at Lexi, “and I still keep reliving that moment with my dad...At the end..When we got hit by the debris, and I'm suffocating and he takes his helmet off, puts it on me...Smiles and I black out.”

“It's a lot for anyone to take on Natalie, I don't envy you for it that's for sure. It's also why I keep hounding you to rest so much because I know this is all wearing you down and if you don't it will break you...I can already see it and I don't want that to happen. I care too much about you to watch you fall apart.” She moved her hand to lift Ryder's face so she would look at her, “do you hear me Ryder?”

Ryder looked up at her, what did she mean cared about her? Because she was the Pathfinder and it was her job or because she was her friend? “I hear you…”

“The question is are you going to listen to me?” Lexi got up to undo Ryder from all she had attached her to.

“I'll give it my best,” she really would try but she still had a job to do no matter what Lexi said.

“I guess for now that's all I can ask for,” Lexi helped her stand up, “come on I'll walk you back to your room.” Lexi walked her to her quarters, got her laid down and made sure she was going to sleep and left her. After the doors closed Lexi walked back to the Medbay and thought about what just happened and decided to jot it down for herself, to keep notes on Ryder's mental state and also on her own personal attachment as it seemed was becoming more apparent for Ryder.

*Gasp*

“Transfer codes…” Alec looks at his daughter on last time and smiled, “deep breaths..” *cough*

“What?..Dad! NO!...” Alec falls over smiling at her, she reaches out to him but he is to far away and she can't move. It hurts to breathe and she can feel herself slipping away…

*Gasp* Ryder shot up in her bed, gasping for breath, soaked in sweat and shaking. She looked around and realized she's in the safety of her quarters on the Tempest. Managing to settle herself and get up she made her way down the hall to try and find some coffee or something to drink.

Drack happened to be up and eating, her Pyjak was there to, luckily he wasn't eating that, “hey kid you don't look so hot.”

“Had a bad dream,” she sat down with her coffee and petted her space monkey. He nuzzled into her lap and that relaxed her a little bit, “Drack...Do things get easier with time?”

“You're gonna have to be more specific, I've been around along time,” he chuckled at her question.

“I keep having dreams, or flashes...Of when my dad died…” she fell silent for a moment, “will that get easier, or appear less as it goes along?”

He could tell that was eating at her, “depends kid, on how long you let it consume you... Before you decide to move on...I know it's tough, especially with your brother still in a coma also but so long as you hold onto it you'll never be rid of it.” He put his beer down.

“Thanks,” she scratched her monkey’s ear and gave him a partial smile.

“Anytime kid,” he got up and headed to bed.