*

[azimuthh]

Equipment: Omni tool blueprints

Andromeda is by far the most hostile place Matt has ever been to but it has unerringly brought out the best in him. Resourcefulness has always been one of his greatest strengths and now, during times of strife, it shines its brightest. In terms of equipment innovations, ideas have been pouring out of him as if through a conveyor belt.

Together with Siobhan, Gil and Jaal they’ve put together almost a line of gadgets that do things none of the more prominent weapons and tech manufacturers in the Milky Way considered important enough to put on their lists of products.

Due to Pathfinder relations with Nexus leadership being far from seamless, Matt and Siobhan have been working towards setting up some kind of independant economic foundation from which the Pathfinder initiative can draw in case Director Tann gets out of hand again. Patenting some of these devices is one of many steps being taken towards that goal. Below is a list of some of the items, all of which Matt carries blueprints of for on-the-fly minifacturing via his omni tool.

Portable Wave Emitter: This gadget works on powered down electrical devices. After scanning the targeted object, SAM calibrates the emitter and projects radio waves into it that provide the power necessary for its internal mechanisms to operate. Mostly intended for exploration of derelict ships and stations, wherein all bulkheads and passageways may be blocked because there is no power.

Mass Reducer: Gil's expertise with the Tempest's FTL drive enabled the three of them to build a device that lowers the user's mass. Its intentionally simplistic design makes it useless for combat purposes but it allows someone to go undetected by a ship's mass sensors, which are relied upon to detect stowaways or other unregistered cargo. This is a stealth device intended for boarding an enemy vessel.

Anti Cloak Grenade: The "Destined" kett unit possesses a cloaking device that is more advanced than most Initiative and angaran cloaking mechanisms. Since thermal imagery fails and motion sensors don't ensure accuracy, Matt decided it'd be smarter to throw a more primitive solution at it. The grenade is actually a paint spray bomb that marks its targets bright pink. A cloaked individual caught in it will be completely outlined on top of their footprints remaining highly noticeable for the remainder of the firefight. A week after Matt made his first kill using this device, Drack was still going into fits of laughter remembering how the kett Destined reacted in desperation to being visible before making a futile attempt at bolting for cover.

Thermite Bomb: It would be almost irresponsible not to have a thermite bomb blueprint stored in Matt's omni tool considering how simple the construction is. Using a mixture of metallic powders such as aluminum and red oxide, Matt's omni tool can construct a bomb capable of melting right through metal. Under more creative circumstances, it can be used for emergency welding purposes.

Nocturnal Imagery: A device designed to be adapted onto the user's helmet via minifacturing. SAM maintains a constant connection to it during use. When a potentially damaging source of light is activated, SAM shuts the device off to protect the user's vision from catastrophic damage. Although the user can be protected from long term retinal scarring, shutting it off wouldn't stop something like a flash bomb from blinding the user for a few moments.

[azimuthh]

aimee-arling :

[ complete reply ] 

The barkeep finally came back around as she mulled - Aimee watched as the smooth, dark liquor spilled into her glass.  “No idea.  I just heard about a secret hut in Haarfel where they were collecting Exiles and…experimenting on them.” She swirled her drink twice before taking a rather polite sip.  “I don’t know what they’re doing, but knowing Cerberus it’s ought to be something pretty damn unsavory.”

It did sound odd, didn’t it? To state his species as part of his introduction. It had an explanation of course but after she laughed it off and asked him about it, he decided that telling her the circumstances under which he did so would be superfluous. He opted for something simpler.

“Ever since I was made chief carny of this circus,” he responded, not an inkling of a smile or a trace of whimsy in his expression. Whatever humor he purported, it was usually drier than ash. “And don’t call me kid.”

His eyes shifted towards the bartender when she moved to grant the request and right back. Then as he listened, he eventually leaned towards the bar counter, resting his elbow on it for support.

Regarding his appearance, her perception of him matched. He was only twenty two years old and already bitter as black coffee no sugar. Nevertheless, the tattoo lining the right side of his neck, which exists in nearly paradoxical fashion to his conservative first impression, is worn proudly. Phoenix was nearly his exact opposite, older but not sweeter per se. She came off more like the whiskey, spicy and hot as it went down. 

“As far as I know, there’s no more Alliance. At least not for those of us living in Heleus. The person who vouched for you is Initiative. When I asked if you were a smuggler, I was told sort of. Is that why you were exiled?”

When the dark liquid poured into her cup, he glanced at the bartender again, this time making the mistake of eye contact. Umi wasn’t the friendliest, and had this uncanny skill of speaking a thousand words with only a glance. She didn’t like it when people sat on her bar table without drinking.

After knocking on the table, she turned away and began preparing his poison-- or, everyone’s poison. Humans were only served one drink here. 

“Haarfel, got it. Say I help you look into this and we deal with the problem, what’s in it for you?”

[azimuthh]

Meditations: Asari melding, intimacy and practicality

In pop culture, when the topic of asari melding comes up, it is firstly viewed as the pinnacle of asari intimacy. The reality is that there is much more to it than that. Other than allowing two lovers to synchronize their emotions and states of mind during a sexual encounter, it can also serve as a gateway to the act of sharing memories. Matt remembers overhearing two asari who went to school with him discussing it. One of them had been absent and was looking to make up for lost time by melding with her asari friend and glimpsing at what she had missed.

Like in human society, there are varying cultures among the asari. There are groups of them with more conservative points of views who believe that the act of melding should be reserved only for a long term partner. Others believe that limiting it to romance ultimately restrains the potential of their biological gift. Some asari institutions have embellished enough in their open mindedness to have even established practices of what is known as meld-therapy, wherein an asari accesses a patient's memories and psyche to either analyze the patient's psychology or, in extreme cases, make psychological corrections, although the latter is considered to be as dangerous as surgery.

He never found out if whether the asari students went through with it but the experience left him curious. After that he went ahead and began his search for answers, something his mother, not his father, had ensured would be like second nature to him. He scoured the extranet for in depth information and came across various interesting notes, especially one about a warrior from before the asari became a space faring race.

Narith Sedela was a warlord from ancient asari times who made a name for herself by inspiring her armies through melding. She did so with all of her generals and, in one famous instance, with a deserter, whereupon the rogue asari was convinced to return and rejoin the cause after experiencing her leader’s motivations and goals first hand. Two years into the conflict, Narith passed away from complications believed to have arisen from overuse of her biological gift. Although her army went on to win the war, her death cast a long lasting stigma on the liberal use of melding.

Once he had learned enough, Matt closed the book on it and moved on. Unsurprisingly, it wasn't enough to prepare him for the moment his life put him on a course with an asari museum guide on Thessia. In retrospect, he understands that he may have fallen victim to widespread perception that melding would just make sex as he already knew it better, or different . . . or something.

At the height of it, as they shared the most intimate areas of their bodies and the motions were thirsty and passionate, she began the meld. The synchronization of their nervous systems brought on a wild euphoria. Her emotions and pleasure flooded into his mind and he knew to the most exact degree how deeply she craved him and how satisfying it was for her to act on it. She fused his mind and body into one, drawing each spectrum far down into the depths of intimacy.

Given that his sexual modus operandi was still very thoroughly human in practice, maintaining mental separation from the physical pleasure in order to last long enough for an encounter to be mutually satisfying, he faltered. She slew him swiftly. When the meld ended and the room they were in made itself manifest to his gaze again, she was rubbing his chest, whispering into his ear not to forget that it wasn't a human he was in bed with, it was with an asari . . . and the standards were not the same.

Next time, she asked, he should show more of his wonderful mind, more of his emotions and pleasures and although she saw fit to instruct him after the session, she found gratification in his delirium during the process. It was proof that she had been his first asari.

Since the relationship with Salifelia ended, he's developed a thoroughly explored perception of asari melding that he's never talked to anybody about. The thought that whatever positive opinions he has on the subject would be perceived to have been swayed by a romantic relationship with an asari dissuades him. His sister occasionally teases him about having a "thing" for asari. He finds himself averted to the idea of perpetrating that any further, true or not.

[azimuthh]

willreignite :

“Yeah for a moment I was kind of wondering whether I’m interacting with a human being or an interface,” she gave him a crooked smile while folding her arms.

“Right. So. Before I hit a bar,” or ten, “is there any danger, any problem, any unpleasant situation I should know about? Asking because usually there are some and I’d hate to be dragged out from a fun place while not being at the peak of my abilities when something pops up.” Each and every word made it clear that she experienced something like that more than once to be prejudiced and careful. It was better to ask than feel sorry later.

"Since this is primarily a military installation, things are generally quiet. Only way I think it would get chaotic is if the batarians decide they want to have a go at Earth . . ."

There was a pause between his first statement and the one that followed, like there was at least brief consideration before going ahead.

"-- or if your pilot decides to steal a cargo loader and prove he's the most qualified driver on the station again."

In some circles, Shepard's pilot was talked about as if he himself was royalty here. Did she know?

"That aside, why don't you let me show you around? You can drink as much as you like and I'll make sure you end up back on the Normandy when you're done. If you need to talk to someone about it, contact my CO. I'm sure she'll clear me for this detail."

With a more relaxed expression crossing his face, he added, "And don't worry, I wont cramp your style."

[azimuthh]

Choices: Saving the krogan scouts over Pathfinder Raeka and her team.

Making this choice put Matteo’s ability to set aside personal inclinations to the test. Pathfinder Raeka was one of the very few individuals he has ever encountered who captured his respect almost immediately. She was tenacious and profoundly resourceful, both traits that Matt holds in high regard.  

When the time came for a choice to be made, however, it took him a few long moments to get his thoughts together. Although he didn’t reveal it out loud, his first impulse was to rescue the Pathfinder, believing her to be an invaluable asset from what he had seen thus far. There was also the matter of being rescued himself by the salarian Pathfinder and her team, which undoubtedly fostered sentiments of appreciation and yearnings of returning the favor.

Giving himself time to think deeply on it revealed a different perspective. The process of making a choice took him through some of the same thoughts he had when deciding if whether Prodromos would be a military or science installation. Numbers had to be taken into account and as of that very moment, krogan numbered the fewest.

In contrast to all the other Initiative races who arrived in the first wave, most of the krogan in Heleus hitched a ride aboard the Nexus. They were not given an ark of their own. Meanwhile, the Parchero alone housed twenty thousand salarians.

He also realized that if he had been on the other side, having helped Raeka’s team survive during the mission, he wouldn’t demand or even expect some sort of recompense once a decision needed to be made. Under normal circumstances it might have been a relief to hear Raeka say that she understood his decision but in reality, it only made him feel worse. The regret multiplied ten fold.

Once he was back aboard the Tempest and he and his sister were approached by Drack, who acknowledged that it must have been a tough decision but he was glad they had chosen the scouts, Matt cut him off sharply and made it clear that he wasn’t glad at all. As an expression of confusion crossed the krogan’s almost earthen face, Matt elaborated further and stated that as far as he was concerned, when it comes to lost lives there are no such things as sacrifices that are worth it, only sacrifices. Regrettable, unfortunate and life ending sacrifices.

A few days later he overheard Drack talking to Kesh about it in the galley via comms. He remarked that Matt didn’t respond angrily to the Moshae’s praise for sacrificing the angaran captives in the kett facility on Voeld. When Kesh responded that the stress of difficult decisions affects everyone, Drack deflected the thought. Instead, he proposed that because of the krogan he is, the type to have taken part in the destruction of the home world, it didn’t surprise him that he had more of a one track mind regarding the choice.

The Moshae said the twins had earned her respect with their brave decision. He said he was glad his scouts were chosen. The difference in tone was clear. The Moshae had no part in dooming future generations to a period of reproductive desolation. If anything, she lit the path for her people. They were different in that way, which was why their choice of words contrasted so egregiously. 

The next time the Tempest was planet side, Matt asked Drack to accompany him on a mining expedition like he usually did. The old relic wouldn’t admit it but the gesture really helped lighten up his spirits.

[azimuthh]

willreignite :

“Yes, they did. I took the freedom to explore the station while they take care of my ship,” she replied and looked around. “Quite cozy, huh?” A bit of small talk wouldn’t hurt, would it?

[ complete reply ] 

Matt’s eyes angled down, nodding just once. Knowing that the Alliance was on top of things seemed to put everything about him at ease. Even his body changed, as if relieved from a palpable weight.

In response to her question, he turned his eyes back up again, first to her face and then all around at the empty corridor they were in.

“Sure– maybe not this exact place, ma'am, but sure.”

He glanced to his right, eyeing a station map attached to the wall there.

“There are cozier venues. The Pavilion has a lot in the way of relaxation. Spas and bar lounges. A zero g hooka bar opened up recently with mellow undertones. Fog machines and smoke everywhere somehow gives a sense of privacy.”

He left out the fact that his friends did all the smoking. He indulged in a closed drink or two, nothing more.

“Sorry I went all Avina on you there. ma’am, but I couldn’t call myself Alliance if I let the first human Spectre settle for this.” 

[azimuthh]

bastardofkadara :

Reyes did not relish the possibility that Matteo’s loyalties might be facing a delicate balancing act if the Krogans got involved in the Collective’s business. It was their home arena after all, some sort of interaction seemed very likely.

[ complete reply ] 

The certainty with which Reyes responded showed that he believed he had a firm understanding of things. A single thought crossed Matt's mind in response and a part of coming to terms with what he gathered involved staring at the Charlatan for a few seconds. After watching and studying long enough, he turned to look ahead again. The gesture could have come across as either a digressive motion or one taken after some sort of conclusion had been reached.

The next time Matt spoke, there was something different about his tone. It had never been impassive per se but he mellowed down his choice of words and how he uttered them. For the time being, he believed that in order for Reyes to function at his best, he needed to be left firmly in control of the mission. Matt's own leadership skills had been praised during his time in the Alliance but one of the main reasons why was because he was cited to be like oil. In a machine, he facilitated healthy function of all the moving parts. He brought out the best in his squadmates and kept their heads above water during the worst times. Even better, he could be very subtle about it.

"Yeah, Kaetus probably knows that if he tried to settle a personal grudge using a group of bottom line types, he would go the way of Julius Caesar. But you yourself said love makes people do funny things."

A wise man once said that the greatest obstacle to discovery isn't ignorance, but the illusion of knowledge. He thought it possible for Reyes that in believing he had the Kaetus equation solved, he might obstruct himself from discovering new information going forward. Right now, Matt believed it to be furthest from the right moment to say anything like that without coming close to compromising what chemistry they had as partners. All he could do was watch Reyes’ back, something he was adept at. 

Regardless of the things Matt was contemplating, he never set aside that Reyes was the Charlatan, the shadowy spider that ensnared all of Kadara in a network of invisible cobwebs. In remembering that, he maintained confidence of letting Reyes decide the angle of approach. 

"It'd be more than bad. The quicker we take care of this, the better. Tell me about that lead. What's the point of contact going to be like?"

Just as he spoke, an outpost of some kind far enough in the distance broke the perpetual sea of bright sand he had been watching during the flight. 

"That it?"

[azimuthh]

aimee-arling :

Propping her leg up on the barstool next to her, she rested her elbows on the counter behind her, tilting her head back slightly and stared at the ceiling.  Sitting.  Waiting.  Anticipating.  Aimee wasn’t entirely sure yet if she regretted sending an encoded email to the human Pathfinder about the rumors of Cerberus on Kadara - dealing with things on her own was simpler.  But she’d was willing to see where it went.  Anyway, if he pissed her off with any Ailliance bullshit, she’d just deck him in the face.

[ COMPLETE POST ] 

Although it wasn't as cut throat as living on Kadara, being one of the Pathfinders who was delivering thousands from their despair had its own sorts of difficulties. When people are ignored and let down enough by their leaders, they develop a tendency of clinging to any authority that seems even remotely willing to help. As it were, the crew of the Tempest had provided aid to many throughout Heleus, even some who were unaffiliated with the Initiative.

People had gotten it in their heads that for the human Pathfinders, no job was too small and now messages practically poured in like ryncol at a rite of passage celebration. There were so many of them that it was hard to tell which ones were legitimate. Amelia's call for support spent a while at the bottom of what could be called a digital message bin, archived and set aside by SAM until the wildest stroke of luck changed everything.

Matt entered Kralla's song and had to maneuver past a pair of drunk krogan who nearly stumbled into him. Then he descended the stairs at a youthful and energetic pace before entering the bar proper, glancing left and right to see if he would recognize anybody in the crowd. He wouldn't have recognized Amelia, of course. The only way for him to know he had found who he was looking for was via omni tool, which picked up a greeter signal provided to him in the encoded message she sent.

Pathfinder, the person called Phoenix is sitting at the bar. She is the one taking up more than one bar stool.

By now, Matt had become completely accustomed to the voice in his head. At first, he would often tilt his head up or on some other direction, his instincts asking for him to connect a face to the voice he was hearing. Another unnecessary thing he used to do was respond with his voice. That had also changed, having learned to converse with the AI within the depths of his mind.

Thanks SAM.

As his approach came to a gradual halt, he made eye contact, familiarizing himself with the features. There was something rebellious about her posture, like she might not be the the daintiest thing he’ll encounter all day, not that it was a problem. 

"Matteo Ryder, human Pathfinder. I'm only here because someone I know vouched for you. Wouldn't tell me why, though. Said if I wanted to know more, I should just come meet you. You must have made some kind of impression. Originally, your message was marked as spam."

That said, he sat down on the stool next to where her leg was propped and turned his head to look at her, "Tell me more about this situation with Cerberus. Know where they’re operating out of?"  

[azimuthh]

@willreignite

Setting: Arcturus Station, Alliance Docking Bay  

Matt was walking down along a well lit but quiet corridor of the Alliance engineering facilities when off in the distance he caught sight of a lone figure. The very first details his eyes digested were the flaming red tones of her hair, and as he came closer and angled his head  to get a better look, he realized that he was en route to Alliance royalty.

Stopping and straightening his posture, he saluted firmly before folding both arms behind his lower back, the Alliance insignia on his chest clearly visible. Although he looked like he may have been off the clock at the time, duty compelled him, "Ma'am."

Going by how she was unaccompanied, the concern that nobody had yet arrived to meet with her crossed his mind, something he would have found absolutely unacceptable.

"Have Alliance personnel been around yet to address your requests?"

Not like he could do anything about it if not. Or could he?

[azimuthh]

Choices: Prodromos, a science outpost.

One of the few large scale decisions in which the Pathfinder twins disagreed. Due to the chaotic state the Initiative finds itself in as a result of the hostile kett, remnant and even their own people ( outcasts ), it seemed obvious that Prodromos needed to be a military outpost. From an outside perspective, in other words to the rest of the crew, it was a curious discussion to witness when taking into account each of the Pathfinders’ specializations.

Siobhan, the twin who had poured most of her person into the sciences wanted a military outpost. Matteo, the twin who had poured most of his person into military studies wanted a science outpost. That it was ultimately decided that Prodromos would be a science outpost stands as a testament to the faith the twins have in one another. This wasn’t the only time each of them would disagree on something without compromising the team’s chemistry.

As far as Matteo was concerned at this junction, the war against Heleus was already lost. When large scale conflicts break out, it inevitably becomes about numbers. The cold hard truth is that the Initiative has already lost that part of the war, arguably the most vital of all. To put it into perspective, there are a total of four arks, each of which carried a maximum of twenty thousand personnel, most of which can’t even be awakened from cryo yet. Even with the added numbers that the Nexus itself provides, the Initiative as a civilization in Heleus doesn’t even number in the hundred thousands yet. Factor in the instability as a result of the Nexus Uprising and the total numbers are dismal in comparison to the kett.

Matteo believed that in order to achieve victory in any material degree, the Initiative needs an edge that one single military outpost wasn’t going to provide. A science outpost dedicated to studying the new galaxy they inhabit, including the remnant, might actually have a better chance of doing something. During the discussion, he left it at that but there were other motivations that he knew better than to express.

Knowing that his sister’s pragmatic nature sometimes leaves little room for idealism, he never told her that he also believed that making Prodromos a science outpost as a sign of good faith to all who were watching actually carried weight. A wise man named Sallust once said, “Neither soldiers nor money can defend a king but only friends won by good deeds, merit, and honesty.” In Heleus, those friends happen to be the angara, who Matt believes might help equalize the numbers discrepancy the Initiative suffers.

So far, the decision has resulted in nothing but disadvantages. When Liam put the Initiative in danger by providing an angaran contact with codes of great sensitivity, August Bradley, the mayor of Prodromos, stated that they may have been better off with soldiers on hand when he arrived to assist. Akksul, the Roekaar leader, took advantage of the fact that Prodromos wasn’t very well protected because it was a science outpost and tried to destroy it.

Because he is responsible for this decision and its consequences, each time these missions cropped up he went in willing, ready and maybe even eager to make the ultimate sacrifice to ensure success. Fortunately, the team performed well enough to keep the decision from appearing like a grave mistake … for now. 

Matteo was well liked among the Alliance for being reliable and cool headed. He never falters. However, it would be a lie for him to say that he doesn’t worry he may have been wrong about Prodromos every now and then. It doesn’t consume him because he knows a man can only do his best, something he never fails to do, but whether you go into the history books as a failure or a success sometimes hinges on one single decision. 

Not only that but this is a decision that could cost lives.

[azimuthh]

 Choices: Destruction of the exaltation facility on Voeld. 

During the mission to retrieve the Moshae from the kett, Matt advised that the destruction of the exaltation facility was the wisest course of action when he and his sister, who he shares the Pathfinder responsibility with, delegated. One of the obvious reasons why was that if they chose to free the captives, the facility would remain, thereby enabling the kett to continue the genetic assimilation of the numerous races they continue to encounter in Heleus.

Another nagging concern that he developed since the first moment he witnessed the process of exaltation was the compliance of the subjects. None of the angara that underwent the process appeared to resist and the possible reasons are numerous with no definitive answer within grasp. It could have been drugs or even small scale genetic alteration. Considering the fact that high ranking kett use pheromones to command the loyalty of their subordinates, something Matt believes makes the kett more like a race of drones in an ant colony than any genuine sapient race, they may have already ensured control over the subjects they select for exaltation.

There were also those quarters that resembled classrooms the Pathfinder team encountered in the facility. Considering that the few newly created kett they encountered attacked immediately, it would appear to indicate that no further education is necessary for them to become members of kett society. That begs the question; who were they educating? The only viable candidates that remain are actually the captive angara. The thought hearkens back to various forms of indoctrination found littered all throughout history. Could it be that those who are ultimately selected for the final process are brainwashed into believing it to be the correct course of action?

Whatever the truth is, Matt perceived these concerns as a genuine possibility that in releasing the captives, he and his sister may have been releasing individuals who were already firmly under the control of the kett even if their bodies wouldn't appear to indicate it yet. So far, the Moshae stands as a testament to the contrary considering she hasn't turned on her people but there is nevertheless no denying that there is something strange about how those angara did not resist the process at all.

In thinking it further, he has also considered that maybe the reason the angara didn’t resist was because friends and family in the facility were threatened with violence or perhaps false promises were made by their captors. It’s possible that the classrooms are there for the newly chosen, who may be ignorant to their kett heritage despite being fully submissive to their masters. 

Months later, Matt continues to meditate on the matter and he has come to realize that whatever the answer was, it may have been lost with all of the captives who died during the destruction of the facility. The only way to find out for sure would have been to study those captives, ask them what went on. Now another opportunity will only be revealed if another facility like this one is discovered, something he hopes wont happen but is nevertheless prepared for. If at all possible, in the case another exaltation facility is discovered, he may suggest capturing it and putting it under quarantine for further study with humane practices to get to the bottom of it. 

[azimuthh]

Relationships: Suvi Anwar

For Matteo, who is far from a spiritual path, it was surprisingly easy to engage Suvi in discussion about religion, if it can even be called that in her case. During one of their conversations, he asked her how it was possible for her to be such an accomplished scientist while maintaining a firm belief that a higher power existed and she responded that it was patterns in science.

He left it at that for months until one day he revisited the conversation during one of his ruminations and wondered what patterns exactly she was talking about. At first, he didn’t think he was interested in the answer because it would undoubtedly involve a long winded scientific explanation ( he’s not a scientific path either ) but when he realized how short sighted a sentiment that was, he decided to approach her again about the subject and inquire anyway. If there was anything he didn’t understand, he resolved to do the necessary research.

Naturally, she was surprised by the question and characteristically excited to lay it all out for him. One of the things she was referencing  when she told him what allowed her to maintain belief in a higher being were patterns that existed in biochemistry. So called reaction-diffusion patterns ( more commonly known as Turing patterns ) that take place in such a variety of different things. One example was the snowflake. Even though the process involved in the formation of one of them is utterly simplistic, just water from humid air freezing over, these countless number of flakes are all unique in design because of the varying states of the reactors and inhibitors that are involved in their creation.

To help him understand clearly, she used the waves of an ocean washing up on a shore. As a result of gravity, ground elevation, chemical makeup of the sand among various other factors, many of which will likely remain forever unknown, the marks the waves of water leave on the beach are unique each and every time it recedes. When applied to living organisms, the first examples that come to mind are a zebra’s stripes or a leopard’s spots, both of which are believed to be chemical reactions taking place that are resisted by an inhibiting agent, resulting in a certain spot that is unique to that specific leopard.

It started to get fascinating when she began guiding him through experiments that began taking place during the 20th century. These scientists were able to acquire prints on gel strips from chemical reactions performed in controlled environments that actually resembled a leopard’s spots, proving that Alan Turing’s theories on the concept of reaction-diffusion patterns had weight behind them.

The further into it one delves, the more these Turing patterns show up. This reaction-diffusion concept is in a zebra’s stripes, a leopard’s spots, a human being’s freckles and fingerprints, and more spectacularly, a popper fish’s swirls, which call to mind the spiral galaxies seen throughout the universe. Yes, that’s right, the reaction-diffusion concept even extends to formations of star clusters because they, like a leopard’s spots, were born from some kind of reaction that had its own inhibiting factors, which ultimately dictated its shape.

Throughout the twentieth and twenty first centuries, the theory was considered inconclusive but not long after the discovery of the Mars Archives by the human race, an invention that revolutionized scientific study was made. It was the bioscanner, which turned out to be just the perfect tool to prove that Alan Turing’s theory of reaction-diffusion was true as can be.

It’s a universal law. One that gives unique shape to all creation. God’s writing.

It isn’t very much unlike the laws that sapient races impose on simulated realities or in computer programming. Suvi believes it to be highly unlikely that a law like Turing’s could have been written into the fabric of the reality they live in by chance. Someone or something, some higher form of power, put it there to serve as a building block for all creation to take shape.

Since discovering that the Jardaan were beings who created life, Suvi’s perspective remains solid. All that changes is the thought that the creators of the universe they inhabit might’ve been a sapient race just like the turians, asari, humans, angara, etc, that became advanced enough to create a reality in which these kinds of laws take hold, although she has more optimistic and perhaps even whimsical expectations of the “ultimate creator.”

After the discussion, Suvi earned Matteo’s respect as a deeply thoughtful individual who can enable growth in him as a person. The relationship he has with her isn’t one where they go out for drinks regularly or anything of that nature but because of how he feels about her, he would welcome her anywhere he goes if she so chooses to tag along.

[azimuthh]

philianecro :

He survived. 

“Dr. Xia-Mei. I read you, Ryder. By whatever miracle. Do you know what happened?”

[ complete post ] 

After sending out that communication to the crew of the Reach, it took a few moments to get used to being back in "atmosphere." Memories of being sucked out of the vessel came with more clarity now, namely the feeling of being surrounded by vast emptiness. Contrasted against the muted nature of the void, his breaths and grunts were more audible inside his helmet but everything else, including the Reach's shrieks of pain as she was torn apart, were consumed. What would have been a spectacularly destructive display complete with thunderous explosions was a hauntingly quiet affair, like crumpling paper under water.

He remembered that he was spinning wildly after being jettisoned from the ship and that he had lost all sense of orientation. There was no up or down in vacuum, even after SAM fired up his jump jets and used a series of micro bursts to stop his momentum. As his mind made more complete sense of the sequences that led up to this moment in time aboard the Temperance, the silence of the corridors started to feel formidably empty themselves.

Before long, the sound of another survivor's voice was heard through the crew's channel. There was a flicker in his eyes when he heard it, maybe because at least a very small part of him had subconsciously assured itself that there would be no other survivors. Meanwhile,  her question jump started his analysis. What did happen? The pilot aboard the Reach proposed the possibility of mutineers before this happened and for now, that sounded like the most feasible explanation.

"Right now mutineers sounds like the most logical reasoning. I'd say that since the lights are all off again . . . " There was a pause in his speech as he glanced all around. The only source of the light in his immediate vicinity came through a window, one which revealed the Reach's power sources completing their final circuits, inching ever nearer to the end of its service. "--there's probably a struggle for control of the ship's power systems."

With a shake of his head, he grounded himself and steeled his tone of voice, "We'll worry about that later. Right now, getting back together is our priority. What's your status, doctor? Did you make it out of vacuum? Can you tell me where you are based on the room you're in?"

He was already weighing his options after he posed the question. Going off his navigational suite, it didn't look like any of the crew members had their transponders on. For now, it might be smarter not to ask the doctor to turn hers on to avoid attention from an unwanted party. That was when another voice spoke into the crew channel, "I also read you, Pathfinder. This is Commander D'vedo. I survived the destruction of the ship but I'm still running on my suit's life support. With the ship powered off like this, I can't get in through an airlock or one of the doors."

If one listened closely, her voice was faltering, like she was beginning to lose hope that she would be able to make it to safety.

"Copy that, Commander. I'm turning on my transponder. Follow the signal to me and I'll get a door open for you, power or not."

His very first mission in Andromeda taught him a lesson. After landing on the first Initiative outpost on Eos, the team ran into a bevy of non-powered doors that restrained their progress. Since then, he had taken some measures to ensure it never happened to him again.

"Understood . . . but you're pretty far away, Pathfinder. I don't know if I'll . . . make it to you. I'm floating over the starboard bow."

"Then I'll start making my way to you as well, I just need status on Doctor Xia Mei before moving along. SAM, make a nav point for Commander D'vedo and I. Doctor, do you read?"

Meanwhile, he eyed the room he was in and the debris strewn throughout, everything that could be used for cover. In turning on his transponder, he had made himself a target to anybody keeping an eye on their sensors. 

[azimuthh]

Alliance Years ( Ages 18-22 )

When they both turned eighteen years old, each of them knew very well what the next step was. Both were excited to move into the next chapter but in time they also realized that joining the Alliance would ultimately send them off on different paths.

Before it was time, Siobhan, who was surprisingly the more adventurous of the two despite her wholesome image, suggested they do something daring. A week before it was time to ship off to basic, they went out together and got matching tattoos, Matteo on the right side of his neck and jaw and Siobhan on the left side of the same area. It was an homage to their relationship, a way to always remember that no matter what they go through in the years ahead, they are each other's true north, a way for them to always find their path back home.

Once he was in the military, Matteo earned a reputation for reliability, discipline and resourcefulness. Nevertheless, these were difficult times. He learned that as an Alliance soldier, he would only ever experience what the higher ups allowed him to. Being stationed on the Arcturus Relay station made it especially clear. Protecting the relay from harm and misuse was certainly proud work but it would be dishonest of him to deny that it wasn't as fulfilling as the time he spent on peace keeping missions, where he actually traveled to locations he had never been to before.

When he was nineteen years old, he met an asari matron named Salifelia Disava while touring through ruins on Thessia. She was a guide. His endless questions and sincere curiosity drew her attention and their conversations continued well after the tour had ended. She eventually opened up about a matter of distress, one that resulted from indecision. Matteo put her heart at ease by quoting a great thinker of the 19th century, Jiddu Krishnamurti, “One is never afraid of the unknown; one is afraid of the known coming to an end.”

Unexpectedly, he ended up convincing her that she was ready for more than just one big decision. It was whirlwind romance from there and palpable enough for her to surprise him with something he never expected. Unchained by human custom, she proposed to him just over a year later. The matter of pledging his life to a person who would outlive him by several hundred years turned out to be discouraging and he ultimately turned her down, refocusing on his career to hastily push his mind away from the confusing experience.

Despite placating his embattled heart by telling himself that one day the Alliance would allow him to fulfill his goals, it never happened due to his father's insistent research into artificial intelligence, which was considered illegal in Council Space. When he and his sister were discharged from the Alliance because of it, things only continued to get worse. Ellen was diagnosed with cancer resulting from exposure to element zero during her research into biotic implants.

After she passed away, Alec invited both of his children to the Andromeda Initiative. Considering that their careers, whatever they decided them to be, would be forever marred by the taint of their father's work, the decision was pretty easy. His sister had always been enthralled by scientific study and joining the Initiative was clearly the best way for her to continue pursuing that. On his part, it would be another opportunity to serve, and at last, explore.

[azimuthh]

@philianecro

In a starship cabin transporting eleven people, one of them deceased and stored in a medical pod, there was nothing more than enduring silence. The only soldier in the group leaned comfortably against the backrest with both hands resting atop his over-the-shoulder restraint was the male half of the human Pathfinder initiative. While the other combatants considered what they had been through, he gave them their time and space, aware and familiar with the position they all found themselves in first hand.

To an extent, it would have been feasible for them all to blame him for the death of one member of their squad. He had, after all, been brought aboard to serve as a tactical adviser against a very dangerous enemy. In the end, the only reason none of them spoke up about it was because they were also painfully aware that without him around, more than one if not all of them would have been wiped out fighting that Remnant Architect.

When Corporal Madison was brought aboard, there was nothing that Doctor Xia Mei, who was with them entirely by chance, could do to resuscitate her. She had been caught off guard by a remnant Breacher, her shields decimated by its claws before the Architect's cluster grenades went off and ripped her and her armor to shreds. Some of the body parts were completely vaporized but an expression of agony on her face framed with burnt tissue remained. One turian member of the crew shook bodily when he laid eyes on her, but was now simply seated there, staring off into a vast distance. He might as well be completely absent.

They were on their way back to Nexus space when the ship's pilot was given a reason to break the silence. "Incoming communication from an Initiative vessel, ma'am," the ivory toned turian with blue face paint called. The CO, an asari in her matron years of life, turned her head and responded, "Put it through."

"This is Col-[STATIC] -sey of the ASV Temperance-[SQUELCH]. En route to-[STATIC] -oang sys-[STATIC]."

Although nobody onboard said something immediately, they all at least turned their attention. The man who was broadcasting through their comms was clearly under duress, it could be heard in his tone, but he was also attempting not to be too loud, like he was hiding. There was something very strange about it.

"Immediate interven[STATIC] -ed. Andro[FIZZLE] in [STATIC] -anger."

Matt snapped to attention the moment the last transmission came through, "He said danger and something about Andromeda."

By the time he was done talking, Iryxnia D'vedo, the squad commander, had raised her left arm and linked her omni tool to the ship's comm systems, responding firmly, "This is Commander D'vedo of the ASV Reach. Your communique is coming in full of static, say again."

The next time the voice came through, it was even more ravaged by the disturbance, enough that it was impossible to make anything out anymore. Iryxnia lowered her hand and began, "Triangulate the source of the signal and set a course."

After pressing a few holographic keys on her omni tool, she held her middle finger against her ear, tilting her head to listen to a disembodied voice. When the message was over, she nodded firmly, "Copy that, we'll go slow."

The communication cut off and she turned her attention to the pilot again, "We're hours, maybe days, from backup so we'll have to play this right. Approach the source of the signal but keep your distance. The rest of you, make sure you're geared up and ready to move. I'm not expecting to get feet on the ground but in Apex, we don't take chances."

"Tap-rack- and I'll keep the bang in my pocket for later if necessary," the other human soldier besides Matt responded as a symphony of weapons checks echoed through the cabin. Because the ship was small, made to fit only a crew of ten, they could feel it when it shifted its direction and began a path towards their mystery signal.

"Contact with unknown vessel imminent, ma'am. Getting video of her now. Putting it up on the vid station."

A holographic image of the ASV Temperance manifested before the crew. Everyone recognized it immediately because of its Initiative architecture and colors. However, it was lifeless and badly damaged, pieces of it ripped apart with large compartments openly exposed to vaccuum.

"It hasn't got any power," a female turian commented. "No lights on, just drifting."

Commander D'vedo watched the Temperance carefully, her arms folded. After pacing left and right, her head turning to maintain a visual on the lifeless ship, she spoke, "Since it's dead, bring us closer and survey the damage. We want to know if they were attacked by kett, angara or outcasts."

The Reach's thrusters kicked in, burning brighter and propelling the ship ever closer to the Temperance, making scans more accurate. After a quick analysis, the turian co pilot turned over her shoulder to make eye contact with the CO as she relayed her findings, "From what I'm looking at, all of the damage on the ship looks internal, ma'am. Ripped from the inside out. Mutiny, maybe?"

Suddenly, the drifting ship's internal systems flickered to life, blinking several times like Christmas tree cords struggling to remain lit. It was immediately encapsulated with electrical sparks and flash fires that were snuffed as quickly as they began throughout some of its compartments and while everyone aboard the Reach froze in time, the Temperance opened up and bared its fangs. Missile batteries fired off in every direction and arced towards the Reach.

"Engage evasive maneuvers!"

When Matt's eyes opened up again, he was able to pierce through the discomfort in his body to remember what had happened. A memory flashed before his eyes of the Reach being gutted by missile explosions and the vacuum sucking Commander D'vedo out as if through a straw. Then he followed, spinning around wildly among sharp metallic debris until a burst from his jump jets set him on course with his only option for rescue, the UNSC Temperance.

The landing had been rough, and with life support running low, he pried open a bulk head and entered, hoping desperately that he wasn't the only one left alive. Once inside, his environment systems replenished themselves and he looked around, paying momentary mind to the deathly silence of the ship. Finally, he turned his attention to his omni tool.

“This is Pathfinder Ryder to the crew of the ASV Reach, does anybody read?”

[azimuthh]

Late Academic Years ( Ages 12-17 )

Matteo was so engrossed in fencing and kendo at this point that all he saw was himself in the Alliance once he was of age. In preparation, he often woke up an hour early before school to go for a jog and visited the weight room regularly. For the later years of academia, he and his sister ( who had by then become an impressive scholar ) studied at Jon Grissom Academy. Siobhan was able to hone her impressive biotics while continuing to sharpen her scientific knowledge in the fields that interested her most. Meanwhile, Matteo focused more on the liberal arts and flourished there, developing a defining interest in philosophy.

He remembers being aware of the fact that seeing their father continued to be a very rare occurrence during these times. As a result, he and his sister pounced on him every time they had him to themselves, at some point convincing the grizzled N7 to bestow them with some of the specialized training he received in Rio de Janeiro. 

By the time he was around sixteen years old, Matteo was done wrestling with the implications of joining the military. In doing so, he began looking at the world through very different lenses. One day, he quit participating in fencing and kendo tournaments and asked his mother for a violin, who hastily granted his request. He delved into it with the same fervency he applied to the bokuto the first time he held one. 

With assistance from Siobhan, his violin skills were brought back to form and was able to participate in recitals alongside her. Although he never got quite as good at it as her, the satisfaction of it always came from reinforcing the notion that as siblings, they were a team. They could accomplish great things together. 

Thinking back on it, he would say that he and his sister may have subconsciously expected one another to be skilled, perhaps because they both saw one sibling’s success as the other’s. And maybe they saw one sibling’s failure as the other’s as well. 

[azimuthh]

Early Academic Years ( Ages 5-11 )

In the company of a large group of other children, Matteo was quiet towards everyone with the exception of his sister. However, when the others mustered up the courage or the motivation to pursue him, he was very willing to join them in their activities. Strangely enough he was also more vocal once he was involved.

Ellen used to say that she thought it was senseless of him to be that way, especially because she was pretty sure the other children loved to play with him. Maybe it was because he was fair and brought a sense of order to their games or maybe it was because he was always good at them. Tag, basketball, whatever it was, the other kids always seemed to think that whatever team he was on was likely the winning one.

The connection between he and his sister began to show more and more as they grew older. Once they were out of school and at home, there was nothing that they didn’t do together. They once ran a lemonade stand on the Citadel, selling a cup of surprisingly well concocted ( thanks to Siobhan, who was a perfectionist from a very young age ) refreshment for five credits a pop. They continued to do so until they had enough to purchase a pet crab, aptly named Shelden. They even built it a comfortable habitat complete with sand from which it could get its calcium.

At around nine years of age, he can start to remember clearer bits and pieces of himself without having to hear it from someone else, namely the continuing violin classes that he and his sister were taking together. Although he learned to play the instrument at a steady pace, it started to become noticeable that he had a preference for more physical hobbies. It began with a spot on a basketball team outside of school. Over time, he strayed away from those violin classes and eventually developed an interest in fencing and kendo. 

Matteo recalls the fact that both he and his sister always did their work and were often praised for being orderly students. He surmises that the reason they were like that was because whenever they heard strangers praising their parents, there was always something in there about professionalism and discipline. They ended up identifying those two traits as being of high importance and thus absorbed them into themselves growing up. He remembers thinking that being the student who gets chided in class by the teacher for not doing homework was the scum of the galaxy. 

Their father spent more time away from the Citadel at this junction. There was even a year they only saw him in person once, at which point Ellen put her foot down and demanded he make a few sacrifices to change that. Although he made an effort, a visible distance manifested between Matteo and his father during this period. It was a real surprise that in spite of it all, Alec’s storied past still had a grip on him. Matteo never aspired to be as smart as his father but he certainly aspired to be a successful soldier … and pioneer. In his own way.