[IC] Mass Effect Andromeda: Frontier

[DJAtomika]

Day 3 of Shore Leave
A Gym
Somewhere on the Nexus

The slender, gray-skinned turian adjusted the speed on his treadmill and pounded his feet a little more, panting a little as he pushed his stamina to his limit, earbuds seated on his head as he drowned out the world around him to focus on his exercise.

It was day 3 of shore leave, one more day before they were shipped off to Voeld, and Hazan had decided to get some stamina training in before they left. He knew that the planet was going to be extremely cold, a fact which he loathed, and as such he was training himself to better handle the weather. The bitter cold would drain his stamina a lot faster than normal, since his body was also going to try and keep itself warm, so he wanted to make sure he was at tip top shape before the fireteam left.

Tazen made his way into the gym, carrying a bag that held clothes more comfortable for a working routine. The shore leave would end up soon and so the Salarian decided that it was time to do something more prolific with his remaining free time rather than idle it away stargazing or reading a book. He made his way through the few individuals in the gym, his thoughts briefly turning to the fact that he had only managed to get into it after he had provided credentials that he was part of APEX. He didn’t like the decision, even if he understood the reasoning behind it, of barring the civilians to use what few training faculties there were, but before that particular train of thought could go any further he noticed a familiar figure in one of the treadmills. “Volintis?” He asked, incredulity creeping into his voice. He hadn’t seen nor heard of the Turian scout in their three days of shore leave, and so he was surprised to find him in the gym.

”Huh- WOAH!”

At the sudden mention of his name from the voice he knew as his team leader, Hazan tried to both turn around to acknowledge his superior and keep running at the same time, but his feet tangled themselves up in each other and made him tumble head over heels off the treadmill and onto the floor. With a rather unprofessional yelp of protest, he untangled himself from his earbud wires and stood up, giving Tazen a small salute before a spike of pain entered his right leg, making him hiss a little.

”Sir, didn’t expect to see you here. Sorry about the leg, old injury.”

Tazen let out a little chuckle at Hazan’s tripping accident. “At ease Hazan, when out of duty you don’t need to treat me with any extra respect you don’t think I deserve. Outside of APEX you and I are equals.” The Salarian said, smiling to the Turian. He frowned slightly as Hazan hissed, waving his apology away, “There’s no need to apologize, I understand perfectly.” The ex-STG operative answered.

Before Hazan could speak again, Tazen bent down and pulled up the hem of the left side of his pant slightly. Immediately Hazan would be able to notice that the Salarian’s left leg was a prosthetic replacement, “As you can see, I know quite a bit about leg injuries myself.” He spoke before letting go of the hem that he had pulled up, “So, Hazan, what brings you here? Trying to get in some extra training before we ship to Voeld?”

The turian nodded and tried his best to be informal.

”Yeah, sir- I mean, um, Tazen. Trying to get my stamina up so the cold won’t bother me as much. Although now...maybe I should take a break, hehe.”

Hazan moved over to one of the nearby benches and sat down, popping open the top of his water bottle to take a swig, limping a little as he walked.

”And what brings you here? Also wanting to get some exercise in before we ship out?”

“Same as you Hazan, I’ve been taking it easy this past few days, so I thought it wouldn’t hurt to get in some exercise done before we ship out of the Nexus.” Said the Salarian as he sat next to Hazan, “But I also tend to exercise as much as I can when possible since it helps with this as well.” He added, patting his prosthetic leg in indication of what he meant.

“Must say, I’m surprised to find you here. All this time on the Nexus and I didn’t see or hear about you once. And, well, considering that I’m ex-STG I’d say that’s fairly impressive. What’s your secret Volintis? I won’t go spreading it around, spy’s honour.” The Salarian said with a light chuckle, waiting for the Turian’s reply.

”Well... The Nexus is a big station, and I kinda like to keep to myself. Probably have my navy training to thank for that. But honestly, if you wanted to find someone, you probably could given enough time.”

The turian chuckled, mostly to himself and took another drink of water, one talon idly massaging his hurt right leg so the pain would go away.

“Any particular reasons for that?” Asked Tazen, his interest piqued. While he wasn’t the most social person, he didn’t understood, or saw the purpose behind, secluding oneself. “Ah, I’m sorry, that’s a bit of a personal question to start asking all of a sudden, huh?” He added once he got over his curiosity and remembered his manners, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.

“Hmmm, you did mention your navy training? Any stories worth sharing?” He asked, hoping to divert the attention from his, well, rather question. “If it helps, we can swap stories. I doubt the stuff I did is classified after 600 or so years.” The Salarian added, laughing slightly.

”Well, I was with the 132nd Light back in the Navy, we patrolled the rim between Citadel and Terminus space, catching pirates and slavers and smugglers and the like. I did my duty for sixteen years, and I saw the worst side that the galaxy had to offer. Just...can you imagine people of any species, with explosive collars on their necks, crammed into cargo containers to be shipped across Terminus space? Coming in from the mass relays that are in Citadel space? Those men, we sent straight to the Council. They locked those slavers up for life, last I heard pending execution. Well, that was six centuries ago anyway. I left the 132nd after my sixteenth year, went to do mercenary work for a change. I was allowed the leave from the military by then anyway.”

Hazan shook his head. Six centuries had done nothing to dull the memories of his days as a Navy man, hunting pirates and slavers all across the Terminus sector.

Tazen grimaced slightly at Hazan’s recount. “Sounds like the standard situation in the Terminus-Citadel borders.” He said, not exactly surprised by what Hazan had told him. He had been in many covert operations in the Terminus and the Skyllian Verge and so he knew how bad those place could be, especially the former. “I do know what you mean though, I’ve seen it plenty of times.” The Salarian said, shaking his head to clear his mind of the memories.

“There was this one deep cover assignment I had, me and a group of other STG-operatives were sent to the Skyllian Verge as private security consultants. Pirate and slaver raids were one of the main concerns that those frontier colonies saves, we liberated more than our fair share of captured slaves, though probably not nearly as many as you.” He said with a sigh, smiling sadly. “We were in deep cover after all, so attracting attention beyond what was necessary was strictly forbidden, no matter if we wished to intervene and try and do more than liberating the slaves of those pirate crews that were stupid enough to attack colonies we were advising.”

”That reminds me of my first job with the Riggers. I’m sure you made the connections between me and some of the other members of the fireteam. Our first real mission together was to capture a bunch of slavers for the Alliance. That went kinda well, but that was the mission I got my bum leg from.” Hazan gestured to his right leg, which had stopped aching a few minutes ago.

”I got blindsided by a rocket and fractured it in a few places. You’d think several medi-gel casts, a few years of desk work and six centuries of space travel would’ve healed it.”

“Hmmm, I see, the Alliance does likes to use mercs every once in a while, especially when it comes to the Terminus. Always had a problem with flaunting that unspoken ‘don’t mess with the Terminus’ rule.” Tazen said with a light chuckle, “Then again, it’s a bit hypocritical on my end to say that. It’s not like STG didn’t flaunt the rules quite often, if not blatantly breaking them sometimes if the situation was bad enough.” He said with a sigh, nodding slightly when Hazan explained how he got his bum leg.

“Hmmm, you got lucky, I lost my leg to a loose shot from a Striker assault rifle. You know, that Krogan-made AR that is basically an automatic grenade launcher. My shields were down after I had taken a beating doing an unsanctioned action while defending a Salarian colony from a bunch of slavers. Mind you, this was back when I was still in the army of the Salarian Union though, surprisingly enough, that little maverick action is what got me into STG.” He explained, letting out a sigh as he remembered the siege of Na’Kesh.

”I’m surprised you aren’t missing more parts. That weapon is nasty.”

The turian chuckled softly, reminiscing at all the five years he’d spent with the Riggers, all the odd jobs and contracts up until the crew disbanded. He sighed and took another drink of water.

”So how did you end up joining the Initiative? Something about the pull of a new galaxy to explore?”

“Something like that, yeah, my time in the Traverse awakened in me a desire to explore, to see new stars.” The Salarian explained, smiling slightly “But, I also wanted to get away from the society in the Milky Way. Bloated with corruption and petty politics that ensured the benefit of the few over the many, rotted from the inside out.” He continued on, “The Initiative seemed like, well, the prospect of making something new, something better.” He said, smiling slightly. “I still believe in that dream, even after all that has happened since we got to Heleus. I know it won’t be easy, but I’ll do my best to make sure that what Jien Garson promised us comes to be.”

”The same for me, I guess. But for me it was more of that I wanted to get my family out of the Milky Way. It just didn’t feel safe there any more.” Hazan shrugged and idly gripped his water bottle in his talons.

”My family’s still in cryo. I just hope, one day, they’ll be free and we’ll be together again.”

“Hmmm, I came alone here, so I can’t say I understand you very well Hazan.” Said Tazen, putting his hand on Hazan’s shoulder. “But with the discovery of the Remnant vault we know that we can make Heleus livable, I’m sure that in no time your family will be out of cryo and ready to join us here in Heleus.” The Salarian said, offering the Turian a smile.

He let out a sigh of relief and, for the first time in a while, smiled back. Hazan was briefly reminded of Serena’s chat with him the previous day...maybe his family was still on ice, but he still had a family in the Riggers.

”Thanks, Tazen. I feel a bit better.”

“Glad to be of help Hazan.” Tazen said, patting the Turian’s shoulder amicably. “I’m not saying it’ll be easy, but I’m sure that we’ll fix these problems in no time and everyone in cryo will come out. Then, together with the Angara, we’ll be able to build a brighter future for us all.”

”I’m sure. Well, in the meantime, I better go clean up and make sure my things are packed. Think my bum leg’s telling me to stop pushing myself too hard. Thanks for checking in on me, sir.”

Hazan stood and gave Tazen a slightly more informal salute, then wrapped his towel round his neck and walked off to the showers.

Maybe there was something to look forward to in this galaxy after all.

[Captain Jenno]

To say Kargad had thoroughly enjoyed his afternoon with Serena would have meant misunderstanding its significance. Although now getting into his Krogan middle-age, Kargad had not fully known the joy of watching films until he’d started his family. Before then, it had been an exercise in patience, he often watched only to discuss the feature later, with colleagues. But when in the right company, the experience was totally unique. Time seemed to work differently, in those long stretches of low-light where two people in sync crack unrelentingly wise about shlock, or else shriek amongst themselves during moments of high tension. Kargad had done both with his daughters (particularly Kalayla, who had a fondness for alien romantic comedies) and, now, the former with Serena. There was something grounding about that. Something that made the prospect of being in Andromeda- and here on the Nexus, an alien even among aliens- a little bit more familiar.

He had entered the Blasto films expecting them to be a disastrous parody of far more enjoyable movies. He had subsequently been proven wrong, and then, against every expectation, converted. Blasto was a non-stop thrill ride: an unforgettable, full-throttle exploration of a deep and sophisticated character. Starting as a hot-shot, straight-out-of-school womaniser, and slowly developing deeper feelings as time goes on. Kargad had joked that he felt a kinship with Bubin, the no-nonsense C-Sec Elcor just 3 (solar) days from retirement… he, too, was getting too old for this shit. The casting was frankly fantastic, too: although Kargad didn’t often face in that direction, Blasto’s actor was a fine cut of pink gelatine, and he didn’t care who knew it.

It was whilst Kargad was pondering this, stood before a makeshift movie theatre, put hastily together as most things on the Nexus were, that he clocked a familiar face coming towards him. Kargad had been hoping to find some Blasto films airing on the big screen, for the next time he or his new friend were feeling down, but it seemed he’d found his CO, instead. Upon Sabinus’ approach, he hurried to salute: that was how soldiers said hello, wasn’t it?

The turian waved off the salute, and Tanya was left smiling at the sight of the big krogan lingering around taking in the limited entertainment options aboard the Nexus. ”At ease Kargad, we’re not on duty. I left the stick up my ass in my weapons locker, so please, relax on your shore leave.” Sabinus said. ”Tanya, this is Bragus Kargad, one of the members of my Fireteam. Kargad, this is Tanya Carson, you can probably guess what we are. Enjoying the worst of the vids that followed us across darkspace?” he asked after the brief introduction.

Tanya put out her hand for the krogan. ”Used to serve with a big old bastard in my mercenary days named Ravanor Tonka. He thought we were all daft for making this trip, but he definitely taught me to appreciate krogan where ever they come up. Never a dull moment with you lot around. I hope my boyfriend isn’t being a total arsehole to you and the team.”

Kargad relaxed, breathing out and losing about two inches of height with it as he dropped into a more comfortable slouch. He shook Tanya’s hand with both of his, and beamed brightly: he had yet to meet a human he didn’t like. Thus far, they’d done him more kindness than the rest of the Citadel races. Then again, they hadn’t seen the Krogan Uprising.
”You make a good lookin’ couple!”, he told her, before gesturing with his head towards Sabinus, ”Your fella’s been pretty good to me, all things considered. I’m not really the soldierin’ type, so he’s bein’ real patient.”
His smile slanted a little, and took a turn for the apologetic as he met Sabinus’ eyes, ”I sorta made a show of a trainin’ exercise. But in my defence, I had a shotgun and the enemy was far away. Had to change that, chief.”

Sabinus grinned in turn. ”Oh, don’t worry. You were perfectly in line of what I expected. It was just unfortunate we didn’t have more time to train; everyone’s come from different places with different ideas of how to approach things. You were just doing what you know best, and it got results. We’ll figure out the rest as we go along, the war isn’t going to let us do that the boring way.”

When he released Tanya’s hand, he used his own to gesture broadly about them, ”I was just lookin’ to see if any of the Blasto films got sent out with us! Serena and me just spent the afternoon watchin’ the whole bunch, after she found me sittin’ around and…”
A missed beat.
”Y’know. Bein’ all... big, and manly, and stuff. Just, Krogan things. Uh. What were you two watchin’?”

”Ugh. The same thing. I’ve never been one for the really silly action movies, whereas Tanya is. Let me tell you something, Kargad; even I take orders from somebody.” Sabinus said, glancing over innocently at Tanya, who rolled her eyes.

”Don’t listen to him. He giggled, a lot. Very improper for a turian, I might add. I have an acute interest in what aliens do for pop culture, and I’ve always had a sweet spot for bad movies. Given how grim and utterly rubbish everything’s been around here, I’m glad to have something to laugh at. So, Serena’s been buddying up to you, huh? Did she ever tell you she used to pay me to kick her ass when we served together?”

AH, Kargad thought to himself, loudly and with rampant embarrassment. YES. BECAUSE BLASTO IS A COMEDY. DIDN’T GET SERIOUSLY INTO THAT CHARACTER AT ALL.
”Haha, sure have! That kid’s a treat, all sunshine and- wait what.”

Tanya winked. ”Oh yeah. Kid forgot how to throw a punch, so she wanted me to show her how. I’d like to think my lessons paid off if that surprised you.” She paused, looking back towards the crowd leaving the theater. ”I’m glad you’re taking care of her. She’s a good person, I worry about her sometimes.”

Kargad’s entire being breathed a sigh of relief. The raunchier scenes of the Blasto movies had clearly left a strange mark on his psyche. He laughed again as he followed Tanya’s gaze. Movie goers from all walks of life, brought together by terrible cinema.
”She really is a good person. Honestly, she’s more been takin’ care of me, today. Not a lot of dark in that girl, is there?”

Tanya spared Sabinus a glance. They both were well aware of Serena’s history and were debating how much to share with Kargad. ”She’s… been through a lot. More than she’ll really let on. I’m not really in a position to share information that’s not mine to share, but she’s definitely got a spirit of perseverance and empathy.”

Tanya spoke up. ”I’m not your boss and I used to work with her, so I’ll cut the shit; she’s lost a lot of people and she holds herself accountable for it. It’s part of why, I think, she really goes out of her way to try and smother her teammates and friends with kindness because she feels like she let her old partners down and wants to make every moment count with the people she has now. She tries to help others deal with their pain because she’s internalized a lot of the shit she’s gone through. Not that I’m any better.” she added with a self-deprecating smile.

Kargad was quiet for a moment. A shadow moved behind the gentle green of his eyes, a memory of a centuries old loss. He cleared his throat, and then raised his hand to scratch lightly at his jaw. He was lucky, he realised, to have had his girls for support when Revixtia had passed. He couldn’t imagine carrying that pain with him the way Serena was said to. Even his formidable strength would give out, eventually.
”That’s… hrm,”, was all he could bring himself to say, in that moment. He didn’t want to vocalise his intentions, but he made a note to give Serena a fond and unexpected hug at some point.
”That’s just. A damned shame. Girl like her deserved an easier life. Hell, everyone does.”

Kargad turned again to the movie theatre. It looked nothing like the ones on the Citadel, all glitz, glamor and holographic gals. It was small, makeshift. Like so much of this strange, unnatural place was. They deserved a better life than this.
”I feel a little selfish, now - she lent me a hand in a difficult time, and I didn’t even know she’d had it worse. I think I’m gonna hafta find a little something to show my appreciation, huh?”, he supposed. He threw a glance back to Tanya, ”Without showin’ my hand, that his. I’m not gonna start tellin’ her what we talked about here.”
He had learned a long time ago that his girls didn’t appreciate conversations about them that they weren’t privy to.
”That’s sorta what I like about humans, though, y’know? I say they’re pretty similar to krogan - they’re not afraid to really feel things, and express those feelings. Plus they’re hardy, and… just a little bit dangerous.”
He gestured to Tanya, with a broad grin, and then to himself: ”But if I had to pick one thing I really preferred about humans, it’s that capacity to empathise like y’ do. When a krogan lives a lousy, rotten life, most of the time they just sorta. Harden to deal with it. I can’t imagine bumpin’ into another krogan livin’ rougher than me, and them havin’ sympathy for what I’m going through. It’s beautiful, y’know? Humans feel some sorta cosmic camaraderie I just… really appreciate. It speaks to me.”

”You come from a homeworld that’s a radioactive wasteland where many of your people murdered each other for scraps. Forgive me for thinking you might have a bit of a skewed idea of what constitutes as ‘having it worse’.” Sabinus replied good-naturedly. ”Look, even the biggest and scariest species in the galactic community is allowed to have soft spots and needs reassurance once in a while. I’m of the opinion that the rest of the community never really gave the krogan that; for all of your formidable strength and ability to shrug off even the most inhospitable conditions and hostilities, you’re still people who have thoughts, hopes, dreams, emotions. We turians are a lot like you in that regard; we’re raised to compartmentalize unimaginable stress and strong emotions so we can do our duty even in the face of armageddon. It doesn’t mean that once in a while as individuals, we don’t falter and need someone to tell us it’s going to be fine.”

Sabinus placed a hand on the small of Tanya’s back in a gesture of solidarity. He smiled. ”I think I might have come to the same level of appreciation about humans, myself. It’s nice to have someone I can gripe about petty crap to without being told to shut up and fill out a report to.” he joked.

Tanya rolled her eyes. ”Such a romantic. I wouldn’t say we humans are all about that cosmic camaraderie that you mentioned, Kargad, we’re quite prone to dividing ourselves over the most rubbish justifications. Before aliens became real for us, we were still murdering the shit out of each other based on crap like the colour of our skin or what gods or lack thereof we worshipped. Suddenly, we weren’t the big kids on the block; finding out there’s alien civilizations that have been travelling the stars for longer than we began forming tribes with spears and huts and whatnot and were shooting mass effect cannons at one another way before we discovered how neat gunpowder was kind of was more than a little humbling.

“When you’re up against aliens who’ve seen the entire galaxy and established entire colony worlds across hundreds of thousands of lightyears that were more advanced than Earth while we were proud of having settled two worlds past our Relay, it kind of put all of the petty shit aside since we had much bigger problems. On the plus side, our infuriating quality of refusing to admit someone’s better than us by every metric and not being shackled by tens of thousands of years of following the rules of the Citadel made us a bit too creative and improvisational than most people like.” she smiled, returning Sabinus’ gesture. ”Honestly, I think our best trait is being able to look at the stars and not letting anything stop us from chasing our dreams. It’s why we’re all standing here together, people of three very unique worlds and cultures shooting the shit like we’re old buddies so far away from where we were born that we came here because, well, why not? Somebody had to be first.”

She walked over to the krogan, reaching far up to place a hand on his shoulder. ”Look, I was born before we even had an idea there was a wider galactic civilization out there, and we don’t carry the same baggage or thousands of years of turmoil and distrust that were built up between your people and everyone else, so it’s easy for us to shrug off differences and see everyone as people. The fact that you’re standing here, despite everything rotten and shitty that was done to you and the krogan, really speaks volumes to how much you believe in starting from a clean slate where we’re all here together as one people. I admire that, and I admire the fact that you could crush my head with your hand without straining yourself and had enough humility to be comforted by a girl smaller than I am and finding hope in what she had to say. Never lose that spark.”

Kargad turned his head to the side, and smiled shyly, scratching again at the side of his face - this time at patches of heat.
”Aw, Hell… you’re gonna give me a big head. And mine’s already the biggest on the crew,” he joked, gently, ”Truth be told, though, I’m not here based totally on a pioneer’s dream. That’s part of it, definitely - but the greater half’a the equation is… was... my wife. Honestly, I’m only out here ‘cause I’m still ridin’ on the coattails of someone who deserved to be here much more than I do.”
He contemplated that thought for a moment. It was a strange feeling, a sort of warm melancholy. He smiled doughily, remembering her face, picturing her eyes filled with Andromeda’s wonders. What a terrible loss, and this galaxy would never realise. Kargad turned back to Sabinus.
”It’s a shame she never made the trip. She was a real scrapper - she’d have been a real jewel in your APEX crown, I think.”

Sabinus glanced to the crowds for a moment, letting out a quiet sigh, before meeting Kargad’s gaze. Here he was with his partner alongside him where most people had their loved ones still in cryo, unknown when they’d see the light of day again, and in the worst case, lost them completely as Kargad has lost his wife. ”She deserved to be here alongside you, to breathe the strange alien air and see sunsets on new worlds. I’m sorry she isn’t, I truly am. From the sounds of it, she was a remarkable woman and someone who guided your way. There’s an aspect to Siari beliefs I found comforting, that the individual returns to the universal consciousness when they pass. It gives a certain impression that no matter where you go, no matter where you are, those you love can still find and support you. It’s not the same as them being there where you can see them, speak to them… but it’s some comfort.” Sabinus replied, hoping it wasn’t a raw thing to touch upon. There wasn’t much he fully understood about asari beliefs, but he knew that Kargad subscribed to them. He hope he wasn’t overstepping his bounds.

Kargad nodded sagely. His smile tempered itself, and became measured, sure. A truer truth, he knew, had never been spoken.
”Ultimately, we’re all embers from the same fire,” he assured, gently. He’d noticed that sigh - that moment of thoughtful consideration.
”I talk about Revixtia is a lot, but please don’t mistake it for regret, even at losing her. She was a stupendous woman, mind you; as much grace and splendor as she had grit and brawn. But she’s somewhere better, now, returned to- I like to think- a place without weight, or worry. I miss her every single day, but it isn’t painful anymore, y’know? I miss her like I miss a dear friend I’m sure to see again.”

Kargad took a moment to step back, and appreciate the image of Tanya and Sabinus. A pair more scandalous than even he and Revixtia had been in their day, somehow.
”If I talk about her often, it’s just ‘cause she was… is… my inspiration. My drive to grab life by the quads. My girls, and my faith, helped me overcome missin’ the sensation of holdin’ her hand - and when that faded, all that was left was the good memories. ‘Vix left me with a whole tonne of those. Like the memory of what it was like to truly love someone - more than heart and soul, but on a whole different, existential level. That sorta love that helps you see colours a little brighter, laugh a little harder.”
He grinned his Kargad grin, so hard and wide that it forced his eyes closed: ”Or appreciate a young couple, knowin’ they’re on the same path. So what’s there to be sad about, there, right?”

”Oh bugger, you’re going to make me blush. Turians don’t have that problem.” Tanya replied, shooting Sabinus a cheeky grin before turning back to her krogan compatriot. Her expression softened to one of comprehension and understanding, cool gunmetal-coloured eyes studying the formidable alien before her and comparing him to Tonka. Was that old bastard even still around? ”Someone smarter and wiser than I am, probably a six-year-old magazine that was in a medical clinic or some shit, gave some advice that stuck with me for years and years now. Never regret losing someone or something, be grateful for the opportunity you had to have had those memories and experiences. Even a short time is better than none, yeah? Seems like you figured that out on your own, took me a few years after I lost my first boyfriend, Gary. He’s the reason I got into mechanics and racing, it felt like the sun got a little darker and the desert a bit more inhospitable after he passed doing what he loved.” she exhaled visible through her lips, leaning back against the railing that looked down at the commons below. ”It was a pretty shit way to find out your wedding was going to be cancelled, let me tell you. Changed my entire life.”

Humans lived such short lives, but still often had many partners. Kargad admired that, too, in a way - their culture was one filled with changing notions of love. He wondered if the Krogan would have been better off if they, too, had appreciated the variety and nuance of it all. He had found it just as intoxicating as violence - and hadn’t known a blood rage since. He nodded towards Tanya, full of sympathy but his smile unfaltering still. It wrinkled the edges of his mouth, its near-permanence had wrote its echoes into his skin.
”Hell, I’m sorry to hear that - no matter how things shook out, nobody deserves an ending like that one.”
Kargad stepped to her side, and then put his hands to the rail, looking down onto the Nexus beneath them.
”I wonder what it is about tragedy that draws people together. ‘Scuse me for sayin’ this,” he nodded to Sabinus, ”Sir,” he laughed softly, ”But I feel closer to you, as a stranger who knows that sorta loss, than I do most of my coworkers. I don’t doubt they’ve lost people, too- good people- but until they tell me about it, I feel like we’ll always be strangers. Ain’t that weird?”

The turian smiled in response, joining the other two. It was nice, being able to relax and socialize without the pressures of duty bearing down like a weight. Part of the appeal of traveling across the stars was learning about the people and their stories, and from there, finding a common thread to build the foundations of their new home. ”Well, one thing’s for sure, you always have a reliable fallback conversation that doesn’t rely on the weather when you go through the thick of it with people. Watching a krogan man-handle a Fiend is definitely worth the trip from the Milky Way, fighting giant monsters is definitely something krogan put a special flair to that no one else can match.” He replied, enjoying Kargard’s genuinely warm personality. Maybe, when all of the shit with the Kett was over and APEX could stand down, they could form a proper friendship that wasn’t tainted by rank.

Tanya snorted, amused. ”Coworkers are people you put up with because you try to earn the same kind of paycheque. Nothing cozy about that, unless you’re shagging one of them on the side.” Tanya replied dryly, running a hand through her hair to put it all back in place. ”Last ship I served on, the Borealis, was filled with all sorts trying to escape this and that, a real shithole of unresolved issues and baggage. I only really bonded, and I mean truly bonded, with a small handful of them. It just feels tacky airing out a lot of the skeletons in your closet with people, especially when you breathe the same recycled air as them for months at a time. Back then, I hadn’t really made peace with myself. Now? Much better place. So, no, I don’t think it’s weird at all. We can see eye to eye better than most.”

”I come from similar territory, I think. Krogan, hardy as they are, tend to try and make their hardships into a dick measuring contest, pardon my English,” he gave a sort of shuddering, croaky laugh. A little different from his others, this one seemed to betray his age. It was a laugh of a finer vintage. The best, Kargad thought, almost always came from poking fun at one’s self.
”Not to say I’m any different. My girls got me through the worst of it, but you can guarantee after Vix’s passing, I got some free drinks bought.”
He shrugged gently at this, raising his palms skyward, ”We’re melodramatic, it’s in our genetics. Maybe we’d have been thespians given a better start, huh?”
Exhaling through a smile, the krogan threw another glance over the rail, this time a little more intensely.
”Although on that topic, are there any... y’know... bars, on this space paperweight? Askin’ for a 400-odd pound hunk I know.”

Sabinus gestured towards what was conventionally known as the ‘North’ end of the Nexus. ”In the commons towards the Hydroponics Gardens there’s the Vortex Longue, which was converted out of necessity for that. Can’t imagine the selection’s that great, but it beats fermenting your rations in the latrine.”

Tanya placed a hand on Kargad’s back. ”Well, let’s get a few drinks in you and you can tell me all about your girls. Besides, I’d like to know who’s looking after my boyfriend when you’re off kicking around some assholes in the cluster.”

”You get me talkin’ about my girls and I might not stop,” Kargad half-joked, moving away from the rail as Tanya steered him ‘North’ and walking alongside them: ”Get me drunk enough and I’ll show you pictures from their childhood dance recitals - if you think Eos was a battle ground… ooft.”