Scorched Earth

Rebecca looked at Clarke and said "Hey! You're supposed to f**k her up, not f**k her!" Clarke looked at Connor and Rebecca and replied happily "Hi you guys! I'm glad to see yer not dead! Do we have fruitcake?"

Connor kept his gun trained on the intruder. "Clarke, get away from her. You, march. You're going into a locked room or out the airlock, and which one is up to you."
"Oh. Shit." Eleena eyed the gun warily. She wasn't close enough to snatch it before he could fire. "Well, it's been fun, but I think it's time I said goodbye." She smiled at them, and they felt... relaxed. Mellow. It was hard to think clearly. All they knew for sure was that she was fascinating and they wanted her to be happy.
Eleena scooped up as much of the candy as she could hold and headed for her shuttle. She could have seized the ship while they were unable to resist her, but she hated to use her ability that way. It felt like cheating. So she retreated. At least now she had food. By the time the effect of her power faded she was long gone.

Rebecca helped Clarke up and asked "she hurt you kid?" Clarke shook his head, still smiling childishly, and said "Nope, she'd keep me." He then left to make sure there was no damage to the ship.

Connor shook his head, watching Clarke go. "He's a strange guy. But he kept her from taking my ship."

Rebecca shook her head and asked "do you know what's wrong with him? Did he hit his head as a child?"

"It'd be nice to think that. Honestly, I don't think it's anything that simple." Connor shrugged. "No matter, he's a freak but he grows on you."

Rebecca shook her head and sighed. She looked as saw the planet. Rebecca took a deep breath and said "there it is..."

Connor checked a display. "So far sensors aren't picking up any other visitors. We've got safe landing conditions." He reached for the comm panel and froze. It was automatic to report his approach to the surface. He'd forgotten for a moment that there was no one there to answer. "I'm taking us in."

Once they landed Rebecca darted away, calling Freddy's name. Clarke followed Rebecca closely.

Connor followed, biting his cheek to keep from pointing out that Freddy wasn't going to answer. He poked his head into buildings as they passed, looking for clues, wishing he had some idea what he was looking for.

Rebecca finally gave up with a defeated sigh. She and Clarke looked around, but as predicted there was nothing

Connor soon caught up. "Sorry, Rebecca. It's just like all the others. No sign of what might have happened."

Rebecca punched a nearby wall, cursing through gritted teeth. Clarke placed a hand on her shoulder and said "don't worry. I'm sure we'll find something eventually"

"Now what?" Connor asked. "You paid for a round trip, but I can take you somewhere else if you want."

Clarke picked up a notebook and said "Hey, Rebecca? I think I have something you'll wanna see" Rebecca went to Clarke and looked at the book. She smiled hopefully and said "That's Freddy's notebook! May I?" Clarke handed the book to Rebecca and she immediately skimmed through it. She neared the end and her face looked grim as she read aloud

"Dear Rebecca, I don't have much time. Wraiths have come to Laneir and are capturing everyone. I don't know why or what they plan, but I now know where you can learn about them. Find the Solum Memory, it's your only hope..." Rebecca wiped away the quickly forming tears and said "he couldn't even finish writing 'hope'..."

"Hey, the fact that he was able to leave a message at all means he's quick and resourceful. If anyone has a chance at coming back I'd say he does." Privately Connor doubted that anyone missing would be found alive, but he kept his doubts out of his voice. He peered over Rebecca's shoulder at the notebook. "Wraiths, and the Solum Memory. Mean anything to you?"

"No... I've never heard of the Solum Memory, and we never found any proof of Wraiths existing beyond children's tales" Rebecca sighed.

Clarke absent-mindedly said "Solum is a planet kept off official records and under constant quarantine. Few who go to Solum return, and those that do are catatonic from the experience. Rumors as to why this is vary from horrific wildlife to brainwashing and government conspiracy." With a distant gaze he continued "My former captain chose to fight gungans over hiding on Solum..." Clarke smiled widely as if nothing happened "I'm guessing the Solum Memory is a database on Solum or something like that. We should investigate!"

"So many questions," Connor muttered, shaking his head. Then, louder, "Ok, Clarke, any idea how to find a planet that's not in any official records? And Rebecca, any clue how your brother even got this information? Does he have sources for things like this?"

"My brother often spoke with a turian named Nihl Varren. The guy had connections to high society people as well as some small time crooks" Rebecca explained. Clarke thought hard before saying "well... we could rely on my memory, or look to The Hutts or any crime organization that may have tried making a base there"

Connor considered. "I'd like to have some idea of what we're dealing with before heading to this Solum place. If you think this Nihl Varren is a viable lead, where do we find him?"

"He usually hangs out around Omega," Rebecca explained "last I heard he was doing favors for that asari Aria"