[Alt Text: Screenshot taken from Mass Effect Andromeda Cinematic depicts a young woman with brown skin, pixie cut curly hair styled to her left and dyed in lilac. She sits in a room with cold blue and darker tones, facing the camera but with slumped shoulders, as if the whole world’s responsibility was suddenly fall on her. A futuristic panel on the left depicts a spaceship with a text that is too small to read.  Behind her, in a large glass tube like column a shimmery blue formation resides.]

Year 2819, Day 2 of Arrival to Andromeda Galaxy Aboard Ark Hyperion - Habitation Deck, Alec Ryder’s Personal Quarters

...fuck.

*deep sigh*

I... I think I need a drink.

SAM: There is a bottle in the cabinet under the coffee machine. Your father said it was for unwinding after a long day of work.

Did he now.

SAM: He consumed a very little amount of it from what I have observed.

<Walking and rummaging sounds followed by glass and liquid noises interrupts the recording.>

Oh, that burns.

SAM: Do you require medical aid?

No, no. This is a... good kind of burn. 

SAM: That’s actually your own body temperature.

My what?

SAM: Alcohol lowers the tolerance of certain heat receptors in your mouth, causing them to activate at 34 degrees Celsius instead of 42 degrees Celsius, and thus dropping their activation threshold below your own body temperature.

<After a momentary silence followed by a set of noises indicating Mara taking another glass interrupts the recording.>

SAM: Apologies Mara, I wanted to provide a distraction. 

*tired chuckle* Yeah, I guess you did. Thanks SAM.

SAM: You are welcome. I will let you continue you with your log. If you need anything, I’m here.

Thank you SAM.

<Few minutes of silence and a several deep sighing Mara’s voice continues.>

Alright, okay.

This is... wild. I guess there is no easy way to say this, right mom? You... you probably already know it. 

Dad's dead, he is gone. Maybe he is with you now, I hope he is. He loved you so much. 

He... he apparently told Cora that if he died he would want to go among the stars, I’m... I’m not surprised. 

But... I never heard him say anything like that, I mean it does sound like dad, still... did you... did you know it, mom?

I wonder if Scott does...

*sigh* 

He tried to save me, mom. I mean I died too, apparently... but I’m back, they... they brought me back. 

First to Die — Alec and Mara Ryder

*bitter chuckle* 

Scott better not one-up me on this one. I also got the first scars, he also better not one up me on this one too, I am the cool twin.

First Scars — Mara Ryder  

*sicker followed by a sigh*

He is... he is in coma, technically. And dad... they said it was too late for him. I-- He... he made me his successor, I’m the new Pathfinder. 

I don’t know what to do... it all feels like some bizarre nightmare that I can’t wake up. 

It was supposed to be Cora, the new Pathfinder, if-if something happened to dad, it was supposed to be her, not me. I don’t even have half the training she had. 

Nexus is a bust and none of the so called Golden Worlds are golden or habitable in any case.

*groans*

I may need more than two drinks. 

Mom, I saw you. In dad's memories. He... he passed SAM to me, their connection was unlike anything I saw. 

I wonder if you knew about this. 

I can access some of dad's memories but there are blocks I need to unlock, in time. 

I feel like dad was hiding something and he left bread crumbs for us. 

*deep sigh*

We... we have arrived at Nexus, but it's a bust. It's not completed, there is news from other Arks and on top of everything none of the so called Golden Worlds are golden or habitable in any case. 

600 years sure changes a lot, isn't it?

We knew there was a possibility of things not going the way we planned for them to be but did we really? Jien Garson is dead, dad's dead, all the Arks but the human one are missing-- I'm... 

I am repeating myself. 

They are giving me a ship, it is getting ready for departure. I'm... I'm going to stay at dad's quarters till that happens. I have some files and reports to go through. 

He still has the coffee machine you got for him, I think that and the bottle in the cupboard under is going to be my new best friends. 

The track I'm picking this time is for the sake of irony, I'm sure you'd appreciate it, mom. 

Metric - Help, I'm Alive | Lyrics

SAM: Mara...

Yes, SAM?

SAM: May I ask you a question?

Sure, go ahead. 

SAM: I noticed that in all your private logs you spoke as if you are talking to Ellen. Why is that?

It's... it's kind of tradition. 

SAM: Tradition? 

Yeah, when I was with the peacekeeping I would send mom voice or video logs regularly, and in return she did the same. 

Like mails. 

We would talk to each other about how our day went, what we did, how's everyone doing and so on. 

I think... I think I kept doing it after she died because it helped me deal with my grief. 

Losing her wasn’t easy... it never is. I haven’t even started to process that dad is gone as well. 

*sigh*

Anyways, now even though I know she will never get these, it helps me calm down and assess things better. I guess I can say, at this point, they are for me more than they are for her. 

But it also keeps her memory alive for me and I can imagine as if she is watching over me and Scott from wherever she is. With... dad now, I hope.

SAM: I see. Thank you for answering Mara.

Anytime SAM, anytime.

[Alt Text: Screenshot taken from Mass Effect Andromeda Cinematic depicts a young woman with brown skin, pixie cut curly hair styled to her left and dyed in lilac and hazel eyes. She has a smile and an expression to indicate realisation, excitement and happiness all in one. She wears what appears to be a white t-shirt with dark grey collar and she seems to be in a futuristic setting with cold blue tones. At the bottom of the image the subtitle reads as “Ryder: We made it...”]

Year 2819, Day 1 of Arrival to Andromeda Galaxy Aboard Ark Hyperion

Mom... we made it. 

We are here. 

And nothing like a bit of a trouble (and adventure of course) to wake us up after a 600 years of nap. 

Except Scott, he... he decided to oversleep, can you believe it? *chuckles*

*sighs* 

Lexi said he will be fine, it’s just... we had a bit of gravity problem and his pod short circuited. He is not awake yet and he already beat me on our bet, this guy!

<Announcement interrupts the recording, calling Ryder and Harper to shuttle bay.>

I gotta go, dad’s waiting for us to suit up. Our Golden World was... less than a golden-looking, we have things to figure out. 

First to Get in Trouble — Scott Ryder First Planetfall — Mara Ryder

I picked one of your tracks, I hope this one boosts morale as well. We came this far, it counts, right?

Queen - We Are the Champions | Lyrics

Wish us luck mom, wherever you are. 

[Atl Text: Screenshot taken from Mass Effect Andromeda Cinematic presenting a shuttle window from outside as it departs from planet Earth. Inside two figures in futuristic space suits, one is shorter than the other, presumably viewing outside. Subtitle at the bottom of the screen reads as "Narration: We are all of us leaving behind families, homes—the very birthplace of out species."]

Year 2185, Last Day on Earth Andromeda Initiative, Planet HQ

Today is the day. 

We are leaving Earth and Milky Way behind. We will be in stasis for 600 years and then some. 

I wonder if we dream or will it be like a blink?

Scott and I have a bet going on about who is gonna get in trouble the first. I say me, he says him. *chuckles* Can’t wait to prove him wrong. 

Maybe we can do one of those ‘Baby’s First Steps’ kind of compilations but for adult us and as Andromeda Firsts, eh mom? That would be funny. I know you liked the one you had for me and Scott. 

<A general announcement calling the Pathfinder Team to the shuttle bay interrupts the recording.> 

Well... that’s me. 

Ah but, before I forgot, I found this in one of your archives. I think it is very fitting, don’t you think?

Led Zeppelin - Immigrant Song | Lyrics

You always loved these old tracks, Scott calls them ancient pfft, and I think like you I love these more than anything I have encountered throughout my travels and adventures.  

Sure, modern stuff has it’s bite but... I think because of you mom, these old stuff feels more--

<A general announcement calling the Pathfinder Team to the shuttle bay interrupts the recording.>

Okay, I gotta go before dad gives me that look, y’know? 

Love you mom, and miss you.

[06:02] NM: E%cuse me, is this the Dolorosa?

[06:07] GA: As a matter o+f fact it is, tho+ugh I'm afraid yo+u've go+t the advantage o+f me. Who+ is it that I'm speaking to+?

[06:07] NM: My apologies, for more things than one. This is Darkleer.

[pvt]

:??< oh?