A. Ryder: Interlude #4
Ellen Ryder was put in Cryo without her children ever knowing. Now, finally, there may be a chance at a Cure.
Jaal x Ryder, Mid/Post-Game, Established Relationship. Just a brief look at how Aria dealt with learning her mother was actually alive... and at a possible future.
Short but sweet, enjoy guys ♥ Also on AO3 under ‘The Misadventures of Aria Ryder’
“SAM, message Scott; tell him to meet me by the cryo pods, ASAP. And… and to find Elizabeth Reilly’s pod.”
“Affirmative, Pathfinder.”
She’s running and she doesn’t care, frantic, glad that she’d left Jaal behind, this once, if only because her panic would startle him.
Mom… Mom’s alive. She’s alive. She’s here!
Scott is waiting for her, staring in puzzlement at the pod she’s had him call down, a question in his gaze.
She can’t keep it in, can’t delay, words bursting from her mouth the moment she’s close enough.
Scott, it’s Mom. She’s alive. Dad had her put in Cryo - not cured, but alive!
And then they’re both stunned, both amazed, staring at the pod and wondering what to do.
“There is no known cure, currently,” SAM speaks up, “But Alec had hoped that here, in Andromeda, we might find a way to develop one. I will ensure work is put into this immediately.”
There’s nothing left to do, at that point, other than hope and wait. Scott gives her a hug and then heads back to the Medbay, not yet fully healed and exhausted from the excitement.
Aria heads immediately back to the main port of the Nexus, looking for one specific Angara; there’s news to share.
News on Ellen comes shortly after they discover that Aria is pregnant - the next day, in fact, before they’ve even had the chance to tell anyone else.
“Pathfinder,” SAM speaks up from her omnitool, “I have word from the Nexus Medical Labs.”
Aria blinks down at the orange glow, sharing a brief look of confusion with Jaal when he sits down beside her, “The Medical Labs? What about?”
“The Cure for your Mother.”
Aria chokes on her drink, coughing roughly while Jaal quickly takes the glass away and soothes his hand over her back.
“What?” she croaks after a moment, heart racing.
“The Cure. They believe they have found a way to negate Ellen’s illness. They will begin the treatment immediately, once you’ve given your permission.”
“I give it. Tell them to start now.”
“Affirmative. I have relayed the message. Assuming treatment works as intended, we should be able to bring her out of cryo fairly soon.”
“How soon is ‘fairly soon’?”
“According to my calculations, she should be out of cryo within six months.”
Aria swallows, hands going automatically to her belly at the same time as Jaal’s arms wrap around her, his grin telling her they’re thinking the same thing.
“Mom… she’ll get to meet the baby.” she’s about to cry even though she’s smiling, overwhelmed, “Maybe… maybe, she’ll even be awake when they’re born.”
“I will keep you updated, Pathfinder.”
Jaal bends to nuzzle his forehead against hers, one hand slinking around to cover her own, “This is wonderful, Darling. My True Mother will be ecstatic; she would definitely like to meet her.”
Aria only nuzzles him back, smiling through the tears.
“I can’t wait.”
