Personal Log - 007 - Sara Ryder, Andromeda Galaxy / Date: 2819 (CE, 0 1:12:37, AA - After Arrival) Continued: Back to the Nexus and talking to Scott.

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As we arrived at the Nexus, my first stop was at SAM-Node. He'd asked me to come by as seeing Prodromos established seemed to have triggered something in his programming, that Dad had placed there.

On my way there I was accosted by an angry woman, who blamed my father for all the misfortune that had befallen the Initiative. She said that Dad had dragged everyone on a fool's errand and he was to blame for every death that had occurred. Nothing I said could convince her otherwise. I tried to assure her that I could handle the situation but she just called out my “big ego” and left in a huff.

Huh, I can understand people are scared and on the edge, so I just let her go. She'll get over it.

SAM-Node is a bit creepy, I have to admit. SAMs holographic depiction looks vaguely like a human heart. With Data bits swirling inside it and it’s arteries and veins. Why dad chose to depict him like this I’ll probably never know. As I approached his main interface, he told me that one of my Fathers memories was now unlocked and he'd be able to load it into the implant inside my brain, so I could experience this memory myself. I'd be able to see what Dad saw.

Man, that spooked me quite a bit, sorry SAM.

But you assured me, no harm could come from it, so I took your word for it and …

Suddenly I was inside an office on the citadel. Dad's office, I recognized it from my infrequent visits there. I was seated at his desk and a woman I was not familiar with sat opposite of me. Then I suddenly knew who she was. Anita Goyle, the first human Ambassador to the Citadel. Later succeeded by Ambassador Donnel Udina.

I was in Dad's head, so to say, watching, experiencing something from his past. Wow!

Dad talked passionately about A.I. And how they could benefit humanity, if they were built not as separate entities but in a symbiotic relationship with humans. To augment and enhance human abilities. Goyle denied Dad's request for funding. Frustration bubbled up inside me.

Just as she left the office, a Vid-Call from Mom came in. It was great to see her. But then the hammer hit. Dad and I both.

She told me, him … us, that her condition was terminal and that the doctors recommended for her to enjoy the time she had left. A wave of deep sorrow nearly drowned me. I don't know if it was my own or Dads or both of ours combined. Then anger and determination replaced the despondency.

“Not on my watch.” I heard myself/Dad say.

Then I was back in SAM-Node.
My God, I had seen Mom and felt what Dad had felt. He'd been so full of sorrow and anger. But incredibly determined too, to help her. - He'd failed.

It was very confusing. I still felt deep sorrow over Mom's loss. Dad had not been successful in curing her condition. She'd died a few months before we took off to Andromeda. Her exposure to Element Zero in her research had caused terminal cancer. I rubbed my eyes and sighed.

Best not to dwell on the past.

SAM told me that one of Dad's personal Logs was now free of its decryption and available on his personal terminal for me to listen to.

I asked SAM a few questions about how this “symbiotic relationship” thing worked, how my implant worked and about the other SAMs on the currently still missing other arks. As SAM experiences everything I do simultaneously, he is able to learn about life and as he put it, frying my brain would be “unfortunate for both of us“. Yeah, pretty much.

Regarding the other SAMs. His iteration on the Hyperion is the most sophisticated one. As Dad had constantly worked on him, nearly up until Launch. I left with a slightly queasy feeling in my stomach and walked over to dad's quarters, right next to SAM-Node.

A guard had been placed at the door, to keep anyone but me from entering. I appreciate the gesture from the captain.

The room smelled like dad … several memorabilia on the shelves, his old guns, some real books ...

-pause detected-

Sorry. I cried a little.

There was the old fashioned coffee machine Mom had given Dad as a kinda ironic gift, to help him get through his long hours of research. Yes, SAM you owe your existence to a bean.

I sat down at Dad's desk and listened to some entries in his log that had been unlocked. Several others were still encrypted, to be made available to me as I progressed along my path as a Pathfinder, SAM informed me.

Dad talked about Liara T'Soni, an Assari Historian and expert on Prothean Culture and Artifacts. I'd read some of her works and discussed them with colleagues, back in the Milky Way. He'd been in contact with her to help him establish protocols for first contact and other questions regarding alien cultures. SAM says there are several Audio-Logs of hers that could help me, I'll listen to them later.

Then I found Dad's last Log entry. He'd recorded it just a few minutes before we took off to H7.

I was reluctant to listen to it at first but now I'm glad I did.

He was truly worried about us. Especially about Scott. - He chastised himself for not telling us and mom often enough that he loved us …

Apologized in advance for “things we would find out later”, if he'd not be around to tell us in person, in case … something happened.

I left the room then and there. I just couldn't deal with any more emotional turmoil. -expletive deleted-

I remembered the tech that had asked me to help with the alleged sabotage in the Nexus electrical grid and on my way to Operations I scanned a few maintenance panels. Had to get my mind working on other things. SAM correlated the Data and now has a suspect. One Zarrah Kellus. I'll go and investigate her later. As the sabotage seems to have stopped right now. At least I hope so. -expletive deleted-, I just have to hope the saboteur is lazy …

For as I came up on the first level of Ops an Assari called out to me. A reporter. 

She introduced herself as Keri T'Vessa and politely asked about an interview with me. She wanted to give the people of the Initiative the truth and real facts, despite Tann asking her to paint it all in a favorable light. I agreed with her. The people need to hear the truth and not some convenient lie that might come crashing down around our ears some day. Even if it annoys Tann. I have to admit, at that moment I liked that thought a bit. 

I had to report to Tann anyway so I walked into his office and was surprised at the change that had taken place. The space had been cleared of the crates and stored equipment that had cluttered it up before. It was actually quite a spacious hall with two levels. Several dark screens were mounted on the walls and some Holo emitters were placed around the room. A young female Salarian approached me, from behind the desk that Tann had used before, to ask if she could help. At that moment Tann came down a set of stairs, greeted me and dismissed his assistant. 

He explained to me that this was “Pathfinder Hall '' now. The place where all my achievements and those of the Pathfinders that might come after me, were displayed. A kind of small museum to the Initiatives history in Andromeda and the Heleus Cluster. With a flourish he aktivated the screens and emitters and they came to life. Showing views of EOS Landscape, newly established Prodromos and Holos of me and the Tempest. I still do not know what to think about that. Sure it's nice to get acknowledged and recognized, but the overly dramatic way Tann presented it to me made it feel a bit ridiculous. This man should write theater plays. 

As we were talking, Superintendent Kesh and Chief Kandros came in.

Kandros was a bit miffed that I had chosen a scientific focus for Prodromos, worrying about the security of the Outpost and the Nexus without a firmly established military or police force. His militia was small after all. Kesh though, with dry candor, made it clear that without scientists there would be not enough food to support a military force. Tann stepped in and quelled the budding argument in a surprising display of firmness and leadership. He then proceeded to “allow me” to go on searching for more viable planets and the lost arks. I let that one slide, as the man had enough to deal with already. I’d given him enough grief with my honest interview already. He didn't need a snarky Pathfinder right now too.

I spotted Cora at the far side of the hall, just as I waved to her Harry called over Coms.

There was news about Scott. SAM had found a way to talk to him.

I raced out of Ops, down to the Tram and rode over to the Cryo-Bay.

As I stepped into the medical wing I spotted Scott lying on a normal, medical Bed, with a sensor ring above his head. Harry stood by him and nodded to me as I approached. 

I asked him what this was about and he told me that SAM had found a way to link our implants to let me hear Scott's thoughts, though he was still physically unconscious, but lucid enough to communicate. SAM would let Harry hear his words over the speakers in our Omni-tools. Amazing!

Thanks again SAM for making this possible. This day has been an emotional rollercoaster so far. Dad's Memory of Mom, his last message and talking to Scott in his coma … Is it wrong that I now wish I had lied to him?

Phew, well. Scott was understandably confused as to how we were talking and why he wasn't able to feel anything from his body. I explained SAM's procedure to him as best as I could. He was as amazed by it as I was.

Then he asked about Dad.

For a Moment I hesitated, should I tell him?

I told him.

It came as a shock to him, but he managed. 

Though he sounded at least as sad as I'd been.

He then asked about our mission and how Andromeda and the Habitats, the so-called “golden worlds” had turned out.

Maybe I shouldn't have been honest with him but I couldn't lie to my brother. 

I told him about our problems and the hurdles we had to take. This sent him over some edge.

His pulse started to race and his face twitched in anguish.

All I could do was apologize, then SAM cut the connection and Harry administered sedatives to send Scott back under.

-expletive deleted-

I hope he pulls through, only so that he can kick my ass for what I've done to him.

I'm so incredibly sorry.

-pause detected-

To get my mind off this matter I talked to some other patients and staff in Med-Bay. A guy named Nigel told me about his little brother who'd died on Eos, in Site one or two. I felt for him and promised to lay down a pendant of his brothers at a certain place, as a small memorial in his honor.

A med-tech told me about some supplies that had gone missing. I'll better look into that too. This stuff is critical at the moment.

SAM reminded me of a scheduled meeting with Addison, so I returned to Operations. To further clear my head before going back to Pathfinder business I wandered around Ops a bit and bumped into a female Turian, who turned out to be Vetra's younger sister, Sid. I didn’t know she had a sister. Sid “fangirled” a bit at seeing me but seemed like a nice person. Worked in communications, receiving and reviewing reports from surveyors and now Prodromos. An important job.

Another Reporter, Davis Quar, asked me to help HNS, the “Heleus News Service”, in establishing receivers on planets and outposts, so that his broadcasts could be heard beyond just the Nexus. Good Idea.

Climbing up the stairs to Addisons office, I could not help but admire the view over the Nexus, from the Ops huge observation window. 

The station is an amazing feat of engineering. Almost as big as the Citadel back in the Milky Way, it will serve almost the same function here in Andromeda. A seat of administration and maybe even government in the future. If all turns out well, that is.

With no more excuses not to meet up with Addison again, I took the last few steps to Ops highest level and approached her. She again congratulated me on my success in making it possible to establish Prodromos. She was even happy to finally have something to manage now. 

Then she directed me to another man, standing a few steps away. He'd explain to me the intricacies of directing the Initiatives Human Resources, including all Non-Humans too of course. Well, everyone that would be awoken from Cryo to help establish our new economy, military and scientific endeavors.

As I approached he introduced himself as Vladimir Brecka and informed me in a heavy eastern-European accent, that I now was responsible for directing every single life in the Initiative. He chuckled at my shocked expression and amended that he'd just been kidding a bit.

But still I was now allowed to decide which group of experts would be thawed to help establish the Initiatives presence in the Heleus Cluster. Another responsibility I didn't really want. Yay.

It was an interesting system and after a moment of consideration I decided to get a few military people going, to appease Kandros, his arguments had been valid. Turns out to be a good idea. Later Kandros called me up on the Tempest and gave me permission to send APEX Strike Teams to wherever I saw fit. Trained Soliders and Mercenaries, that had chosen to throw in their fate with the Inititaive. These guys would keep the Kett busy and distracted as I investigated them.

On the way out of Ops, back to the ship another, female Turian called out to me and asked me to help her husband, who’d been imprisoned as Andromeda’s first murderer. I had more important stuff to do, but my curiosity was piqued. She said he was innocent and that he’d been accused of shooting his best friend in the back, during the evacuation of Site Two. As I stepped up to the holding cell he said it’d been an accident during the last fight with the Kett amidst one of Eos’ vicious sandstorms. He admitted to being angry with his friend and commander, for not letting them retreat to safety and risking all their lives but he pleaded he’d never shoot his friend in cold blood.

I promised to look into it as an impartial investigation, nothing more.

Man, I really gotta watch out on my to do list.

To wind down, I went to the newly opened "Bar" or "Club" on the Nexus. Named the "Vortex", its near the Commons and lo' an' behold I found Liam there. Celebrating Prodromos on his own.

We took a few drinks together and the Assari bartender asked me to keep my eyes open for any ingrediences or items capable of adding to their stock. The actuall alcoholic supply brought from the Milky Way being somewhat limited. We'll see what I can scrounge up. Maybe we'll find some nice equivalent of Single Malt Whiskey.

Now I’m at the Tempest again, we’ll decide where to go next momentarily. I’ll write more later.

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