Jaal Ama Darav (Official Thread)

Ryder sees Jaal standing alone on the bridge. Kallo and the others are in the crew quarters, sleeping or eating or taking some much needed time to catch up on emails and other correspondence. The Tempest rests peacefully out in the vast cold beauty of space, a vibrant gold and purple nebula filling up the view from the bridge's panoramic windows.
Ryder could see Jaal was deep in thought.

Ryder: Jaal?

Jaal turned away from the window, an unreadable expression his face.

Jaal: Ah, Pathfinder. Forgive me, but I have never seen the Alseya Nebula this close before.

Ryder: You don't have to keep calling me Pathfinder you know. I have a name. Or just call me Ryder like anyone else.

Jaal: My apologies.

Jaal bowed his head to signify the sincerity of his apology. It still was taking Ryder some getting use to, the extreme discipline, courtesy and regality of Jaal.

Ryder: You said this is the Alseya Nebula?

Ryder walked up to stand beside Jaal as they both stared out the window together, hard as it was not to be impressed by the majesty of the gold and purple nebula.

Jaal: Yes. One day, I must tell you the tale of how the Alseya Nebula came to be.

Ryder: I have time now.

Jaal smiled.

Jaal: Yes. But we have more important matters to discuss.

Ryder: Such as?

Jaal turned to face Ryder.

Jaal: The... the young woman you call "Cora". She is worried about you. Worried about distractions to your role and job. The purpose of the mission and the part you have to play in it.

Ryder: Distractions?

Jaal: Distractions such as myself.

Ryder: You aren't a distraction Jaal.

Jaal: Perhaps I am not saying it right. Perhaps, distraction is not the right phrase or word.

Ryder: What do you mean then?

Jaal: Cora is worried that you are in love. With myself. And that it may cause you to forget your responsibilities. That it will make me forget my responsibilities, to myself and my people.

Ryder: Your responsibilities?

Jaal: For I am distracted also. Sorry... I am in love with you also.

Ryder: I... in love... I'm not really sure what it is I've been feeling lately.



Jaal: I understand. It is something we cannot ourselves see, or touch. A feeling is intangible, but its presence cannot be denied. Not to mention...



Ryder: What?



Jaal: Cora was in fact warned by SAM of the distractions I pose to you. Especially on the battlefield. His readings indicate...



Ryder: SAM's job isn't to read what's going on in my head... or heart, or whatever he thinks he is seeing... or reading.



Jaal: You are getting angry.



Ryder looked up into Jaal's eyes.



Ryder: I don't like the idea of Cora and SAM discussing what or how I feel... especially to you.



Jaal: These are unprecedented circumstances we find ourselves in.



Ryder: It is. But still I... I'm sorry.



Jaal: What for?



Ryder: This is hardly the way I would have wanted you to find out.



Jaal: I feel the same way. Had Cora not told me of SAM's findings, I would have preferred to initiate the ceremony with you.



Ryder: Ceremony?



Jaal: I've recently come to learn you humans do not have one. A ceremony in which one confesses the love for the other. They must take a thread that cannot break or fray, and they must intertwine it among the locked hands of both lovers. And then, once the confessions have been made, if the love is meant to last, they unlock their hands and pull away. If the thread comes away unbroken and unfrayed, their love will last forever.



Ryder: Well. We humans have another way of declaring love.



Jaal: I have come to learn of this way.



And taking Ryder by complete surprise, Jaal leaned forwards and kissed them.