Chapter Text
Sam let out a tired yawn as she slid into her desk chair, opening up her email terminal; her final job before she got some sleep. She deleted the various requests for reports from Tann, chuckling as she skimmed through the usual messages from her crew. Her heart leapt when her brother’s name popped up. Since coming out of his coma, she and Scott had tried to keep in contact, but with her out flying around Heleus, and him recovering, they didn’t get to talk as often as they liked.
She opened the message;
Sammy,
Next time you’re docking at the Nexus, I’ve got a surprise for you.
Scott
Her fingers worked quickly across the keypad as she typed her reply.
Hey Hot Shot,
We’re just picking up some supplies on Aya and we’re headed back to the Nexus. Should be no more than a day or two. This better not be like that time you told me you had a surprise for me and you’d accidentally vacuumed up my hamster.
Sam
It didn’t take long for a new message to pop up.
Scout’s honour, I haven’t accidentally killed another of your pets. Your pyjack wouldn’t fit in the vacuum.
She snorted.
My mouse might have something to say about that.
He replied instantly.
Since when do you have a mouse? You’re a geologist, not a zoologist, quit it with the animals. Next thing I know you’ll have one of those Kett dogs trained and running around the ship.
She laughed at that.
Don’t tempt me. I have to go, we’re arriving at Aya soon. I’ll see you in a few days Hot Shot.
She opened his final message.
Have fun, I’ll roll out the drinks for when you get here.
***
Sam walked out onto the Nexus docks, chatting away to Vetra. They were going to take the tram together down to operations so that Vetra could see Sid and she could catch up with Kerri for her next interview before heading over to the Hyperion med bay to see Scott, eager to know what his surprise was.
But as the door opened, the surprise became all too apparent.
“Scotty?!”
Her brother flashed her a smile from where he was leaning on the railing, clearly having been waiting for her. He barely had time to stand upright and she had her arms around him in a hug.
“What’re you doing out of the med bay? I thought Harry was never going to let you out,” she said, looking him over, happy to see him in his hoody and sweats rather than the usual dark outfit that Harry made him wear.
“I’m not just out of the med bay. He’s cleared me for duty. I’m leaving on the next ship out of here, which I’m really hoping is yours.”
Her heart leapt in her chest and she hugged him again, holding him close. She was going to have her brother back, at her side where he belonged.
She swallowed back tears and cracked a smile for him, “Who said I even wanted you on my ship?”
“Hey, come on now, you’ve been itching to have me on your crew,” he reminded her with a grin, watching as a familiar concerned expression crossed her face, “Alright Mom out with it.”
“And you’re really ready to join the crew? Harry might have signed you off medically, but it’s not pretty out there, you haven’t been out there yet properly.”
“I’m ready for whatever it throws at me,” he told her honestly, “I made that choice long before we got here, you know that. All that matters is that we stick together. We came to Andromeda together, the Ryder twins taking on a new galaxy. Ryder or die, remember?”
She hummed with laughter, nodding a little, “Ryder or die. You’d better get your gear Specialist Ryder.”
He grinned, “Aye aye, Pathfinder Ryder.”