Skillfully Achinta steered his Swoop away from the incoming laser-fire, the Android was now only metres away from his quarry…until it veered into oncoming traffic…

Lux was trying to lose him, but Achinta would not give up that easily, he was focused and determined and until he was rendered inoperable his chase would be relentless.

Deftly he weaved his way through the oncoming traffic , Deed was getting desperate now he could sense it and as the bodyguard closed the gap on him further. Achinta's advanced visual sensors zoomed in ahead of both of them already seeing what was ahead in the tunnel, its layout and its structure…

With the factors considered , the numbers gathered, and the equation calculated...

Achinta saw his chance, his moment and took it.

With their two Swoops now both matched in speed Achinta released his grip from the Swoop and reached out to 'aim' with his left arm, and as his targeting systems registered the exact opportune moment, his bionic weapon normally hidden from sight opened and fired.

A long high tensile strength line attached to a grappling hook flew across to Lux’s Swoop and took hold, without, it seemed gaining the attention of the man riding it, whose attentions were now seemingly focused on the oncoming traffic…

The Android now found himself being dragged along the floor at great speed, and as the man turned around to see what had caused his Swoop to suddenly slow down his eyes widened in disbelief…

Knowing what was ahead, Achinta reached out with his other arm for one of the many supporting pillars that formed part of the skeletal structure of the tunnel and as both connected, took hold.

Achinta’s bionic vice-like hands gripped the pillar, suddenly for only a few seconds he became an anchor and as the line grew taught, Deed’s Swoop was violently and suddenly at great speed taken from under him, and his grasp.

Lux was helplessly sent flying headlong into the first unfortunate piece of traffic headed directly towards him.

Both had been travelling at great speeds, hundreds of miles per hour, and the collision was not pretty.

Deed did not even have the time to comprehend what exactly had just happened , let alone register the pain as he was unceremoniously spread across the face of an oncoming cargo freighter.

The bodyguard’s actions had not been without cost however. In the process his right arm, the arm he had used briefly in order to anchor himself, was now severed. Left still gripping the structure further down the tunnel, as the rest of him was sent ,along with Lux’s Swoop, flying into the tunnel’s wall.

Achinta lay there in a crumpled heap, motionless.

Capricia - Ferendi Province




The man stood on the small platform overlooking a rather sparce community. Ferendi Province was at one time the seat of power for Clan Ferendi. That Clan had been displaced and was thought lost during Exodus nearly a decade past. Ferendi was gutted during the First Invasion and many of the Clan lost their lives.


And now, after the Second Invasion and the Reconstruction, the last of it was a burnt husk, it's age-old buildings flattened and the countryside war torn.

Still, the indomitable spirit of the people of the region (remote though they were; sparce as they were) remained. They looked to this new Commonwealth with renewed hope and with a look to the prosperity ahead.

They had fought with the Caprician Regional Oversight Council to keep the Province independent as the Council had at first decided to merge the old Ferendi Province with a surrounding area due to it's small population. But the people would have none of it and prevailed upon the Council to keep their identity. In the end, the Council yielded and the Ferendi people voted for their representative onto the World Council.

They picked one of their own who had gone off to war and was presumed dead until he suddenly showed up in the town of Ferryne. He had tried to be inconspicuous but with small populations, word got around and the people of the region latched onto him as their 'hero come home'.

So many of their fathers, sons (and mothers and daughters for that matter) never returned from the Conquest.

But he had.

And this Hero of Ferendi Province was enough to represent a people looking for their triumphant return to importance and greatness in the new Commonwealth Society.

He would make it happen.

And so Viktor Tam took the stage to tell the people what they wanted to hear. To tell them all he would do for them as their voted representative to the Caprician World Council. How they would become prosperous once more. How they would become great once more.

How Ferendi Province would be populated once more by people who had the good of the region in mind.

~

Tallien walked onto the stage, his hatred for these people masked by the Ooglith creature. He looked different to some who vaguely remembered the man Tam, but war did that. Injuries did that.

His simple returning sparked something in them and they latched onto it.

The gathering around him was pathetic. In his mind, Tallien remembered standing before millions shouting the praises of the gods and sending their children off the war. To the greatest testament to the pain and the favor surrounding Yun-Yuuzhan.

Now he stood before fifty.


Humble beginnings, Tallien... whispered Xanadal in his mind.


All great deeds, all great movements, all great events start from a simple act. A humble, almost insignificant act.


And so, as Viktor Tam, World Council Member representing the Ferendi Province, Tallian Yzan, former Religious Leader to the Warmaster Tslah Vhess and instigator of both invasions of Capricia began to speak to those who had voted him into office...


"Let me tell you of a time...." he began. The infidels gathered closer enraptured by his resonnating voice.

Election Day

Noble House - Capricia


"The Docket is going to close today. We need to make a public appearance or we will simply be an 'unknown' if we make the Docket at all."


Stettin smiled at the younger man and noted his nervousness. "Afraid you won't carry your region?" he teased slightly.

"Once the Docket closes, there will be more candidates than seats." the young man explained.


The minor regions had already voted and their World Council seats taken. In most cases, the smaller regions had candidates with no one running against them and by law, all regions had representation within the World Council. But those regions who's populations ranged into the hundreds of thousands or even millions had multiple World Council representatives and in that case, held more candidates than seats available.

"Tyscio Korban is a popular fellow.." Stettin murmured and then turned towards the younger man. "When you go public, there will be those who are...were intimate with you. Were friends with you and there will be questions. Fortunately, those that would disturb your momentum are off world."


The younger man turned to Stettin, "What about Vinda's daughter? Is she alright?"


Stettin motioned the young man's question away, "Yes, yes. She survived. Just goes to show you how vulnerable people in power can be."

"So those in power should not have families? Loved ones?"

"Remember your family?" Stettin softly reminded. "Just know that should you have another family, it is a vulnerability. And it is one that can be exploited if you are careless."


The young man fell silent as he tried to remember his dead wife and children. In was an effort that left his mind tired.





Tyscio Korban - Capricia


He was already at the convention site knowing that the Docket was soon to be filled. Once done, then it would be in the hands of the people.

He turned to Leia and smiled, "Win or lose, I still win."

"I don't see how you can lose. The mystery candidate will either show up or not. But you're so popular right now..." her voice trailed off as she watched the other candidates nervously move about.

All candidates were ready for Docket selection and if the mystery candidate did not show up soon, the Docket would close and the voting begin.

"We need to write a note to Mr. Vinda asking after his daughter." she started and Tyscio nodded, "Did they catch the man?"

"I don't know... reports from Bonadan are hazy right now... with all this election business, it's hard to know what's going on out there."

"Look.. there's an aircar approaching!"





Tyscio Zier - Undisclosed Fleet Base, Brosi


"So what do you call this contraption?" he asked, tearing his eyes away from the datapad that was giving him the latest changes to the Caprician World Council.

"Life Jak" the technical representative mentioned as he pulled out the covering from the rather small square piece.

"You see, the gel packs acts as a sort of conductor of energy.."

"Like military grade armour?" Zier interrupted.

"Oh no, sir. Many factions use superconductivity in their armour process but when applied to armoured suits, there is a physical danger to the body itself. We are still working on it but we find that the more energy absorbed, even when it's trying to channel to other systems, it interferes with the body's own bio-electrical process. Heart murmurs..even heart attacks can happen."

"So, what does this do?"

"Well, with this," he pointed to the protective clothing, "it does not necessarily deflect weapons fire or shrapnel but once the projectile or weapons fire penetrates and strikes, it goes through the gel packs releasing bacta or even Panacea clones to repair the damage."

Tyscio raised his eyebrows, "Interesting concept. But the body needs to survive the initial shock of impact.."

"Oh yes, Sir. It's not perfected yet. But several of these babies throughout the ship may give a crew under fire that much more of a chance given that blocked corridors or hull breaches can prevent a ship's medical corp from getting to injured crewmen."


"A distinct point." Zier nodded, "Carry on and let me know how it goes." he dismissed the other, his mind on the elections and as the latest information scrolled across his pad, he nearly dropped it in shock.


"Sweet Clannus Prime!"


And when that wasn't enough...


"Son of a whore!"





Scipio Arien - Bonadan - House Scipio..


Her eyes were riveted to the newscast as they attempted to follow the action. She breathed a sigh of relief upon finding out Natalya Vinda had survived. That Achinta had caught her and was actively persuing his quarry.

She put up the latest on the Caprician World Council elections wondering what Tyscio Korban would say by way of an acceptance speech. The two newscasts were superimposed on her monitor and she saw that the mystery candidate that Korban had called her about earlier was stepping out of an arrived aircar.

The elections would start promptly after and the voting would not be a long process. Most were connected on the new holonetwork of the Commonwealth.


Wait! Something was happening with Achinta's pursuit!

What was he...??


Suddenly the VNN broadcast flickered. Something had happened!


"... The bloody corpse of the kidnapper ...... Achinta seems to be falling... his arm in pieces... It's doubtful he..."


Scipio was already moving towards her door when the a voice came over the monitor speakers.


"People of Capricia... People of the Capital Province..."

And Scipio stopped, the voice recognizable. She turned an eye to the monitor in shock.

"Oh my God.." she whispered before shaking her head. Achinta!


Then she shot out the door towards her speeder. Throwing her bag into the passenger seat, she began to step in when something struck her from behind.


A sharp pain erupted and spread before her mind could react.


And as she lost consciousness...


Tears flowed and she mouthed, "Achinta.."





The figure floating on the Dubonari lowered their high powered rifle watching a father burst out from the house shouting the woman's name. He continued to float downstream and he lost sight of the house under construction.


"Abomination.." the person murmured.





Leantre Vio - Bonadan


Seth Vinda had lost consciousness it was reported and as Leantre exhaled in relief at the safe landing of his daughter he turned an eye towards the transmission from Capricia.

The speech was beginning...


"People of Capricia... People of the Capital Province..."


Leantre sank into his chair in a mixture of shock and not a little joy watching the event unfold.


"How about that.." he murmured.


The old man could not contain the laughter welling up from within.






Capricia



In those seconds, Tyscio Korban knew he had lost. Turning to Leia, she had seen the same, the familiar figure having emerged from the aircar. They had met him once in Antioch, in their Worldboard Room (the war room of the pre-Conquest Capricia). Antioch.. Before Tallien Yzan had destroyed the city in his opening attack.


As the speech of the man built to a crescendo, he began to walk over to other candidates, naming them.... listing their accomplishments before, during and after the Conquest.

The people were at first shocked into silence and as he spoke, were propelled along by the memories, the pain, the comradeship, their victorious finale...


"I didn't expect a dead man to get more support than I.." Tyscio remarked rather good naturedly as he and Leia began to leave the crowded area. There was not much else to do but wait for the results but even they knew, if the crowd was any indication, how the voting would go.


And as he walked away from the crowds, he still heard the cheers and chants. He saw people come out of restaurants or buildings as if to see with their own eyes what was diplayed on their holosets.


The dead had come back to life.


"Gomorran! Gomorran Kay!"

The former Regent of Capricia, the First among the Clans... the leader who had given his life to save that of a lowly soldier's.


And on the platform, Gomorran Kay narrowed his eyes as he watched the retreat of Tyscio Korban. Knowing he had won the principle seat on the World Council for the Capital Disctrict of New Antioch, he cast a regretful thought to the man who had campaigned against the massive supporters behind him.



Forgive me, Korban.



But,



your day will come...




And he turned his mind back to the shouting masses, seeing their Regent returned...


Seeing a hero come back..


Seeing the Ghosts of the Past return once more to stake their claim upon the living...

“Are you ok?”

Natalya looked up bewildered, and found herself face to face with a complete stranger, several in fact. It seemed she had attracted a small crowd all of which now congregated around her.


…what the hell happened?…


She was still out of breath, still winded by the rather abrupt way she had been saved, and as she slowly got to her feet, she found she could only nod in response.

“Take a moment to catch your breath, you’ve been through quite a lot” The stranger said, a middle aged man with dark hair and a kindly face.

Natalya could only attempt a half-hearted smile at this understatement, after all the man only meant well…

…but, if he only knew…

“I’m ok” she finally managed to say before they were all joined by a cluster of security shuttles…

After thanking the stranger for his concern, Natalya was joined by security, and escorted to the waiting craft.

“Whats happening? Did we catch Deed? ” (She asked the Pilot, after clambering into a seat inside the shuttle)

“We got him, or perhaps I should say Mr Vega did…” He answered without looking her way…

Natalya looked up with a frown, she had heard the name before…

“Vega?” She queried…

“Yes, the man who saved you”

Natalya relaxed into her chair wearily as his words sunk in , then steadied herself as the shuttle began to lift off…


It was over…


“Where is he now I’d like to thank him” She said, quietly…

“Er..that might be difficult…”

His words raised a confused expression from her face.

“why?”

“It doesn’t look good…some kind of crash…”

Natalya’s eyes widened…

“Take me there…” She said , suddenly feeling responsible…

“what? No way listen love I have strict orders to take you back to HQ”

“I don’t give a shit about your orders, a man risked his life to save mine and the least I can do is to see if I can help…” Natalya said firmly

“but Mr Vinda said…”

“ I don’t care what my father said!” She shouted frustrated…

The pilot turned around at her outburst and sighed, and murmured something incomprehensible under his breath as he altered his course and heading…










As the security shuttle landed amongst the rest of the emergency services already busying themselves with the task of clearing up the aftermath, Natalya clambered out to see for herself.

The police were slowly diverting traffic and people away from the scene, and as Natalya looked around, her eyes surveyed the wreckage littered about the tunnel.

Including what remained of Deed.

Her face grew hard, it was no less than what he deserved, but then the young woman felt a flash of guilt, this was not the end that this 'Vega' had deserved.

She could not help but feel completely responsible for everything.

Looking away from the mess in front of her, Natalya's eyes settled on something lying on the floor, something mettalic, she reached down to pick it up, and blinked for a moment initially from shock and digust then to confusion...

Then shook her head in disbelief.


...I don't believe it...


Her thoughts were interrupted by shouts from further down the tunnel, and she found herself following them, still clutching the item in her hands...

When she reached the gathering of emergency service personnel encircling what looked like the remains of a Swoop. A figure was stirring from amongst the wreckage...much to the shock and surprise of everyone gathered around it...


Natalya coudln't help but let slip a wry smile as she looked at the face of the man who had saved her , and at his robotic arm she was now holding...



It appeared Angels came in all forms...

Achinta slowly and unsteadily untangled his way out of the wreckage, and found himself surrounded by open mouths and amazed expressions.

“are..are..you alright?..” One of the emergency personnel managed to stammer…

“Achinta, looking somewhat worse than he actually was, simply nodded, albeit stiffly…“I am fine” He answered, before catching sight of the man glancing down at his missing limb in shock..

“its mostly superficial, it can be repaired..” He stated calmly, before the man could ask…

It was at this moment Achinta came face to face with Natalya…Who appeared to be clutching his severed arm.

“you uh…dropped this..” She said before handing it out to him…

The bodyguard regarded her for a moment, took it from her and thanked her…

“Its good to finally meet you ..Natalya..” He said stiffly…
then perhaps as an afterthought he added… “ I would shake your hand..but…”

His voice trailed off as he glanced down at his unattached limb he was still holding.

“er..that’s okay…” Natalya said following his train of thought. Slowly they both started to walk away from the crash site, although he could still walk, it wasn't very graceful, a severe limp in fact. The impact had bent and buckled his legs to the extent where if he had been human, he probably would have never walked again.

“I would never have guessed you were a robot” She said looking up at him…

“ I prefer the term, Human Replicant myself…” He corrected with a faint smile…

Natalya simply nodded at this, then seemed to properly notice the state of the Android's legs.

"Can you make it to the shuttle or do you need help?" Natalya said, concerned.

Achinta's face remained impassive.

"I won't be chasing after any more kidnappers for a while , but I can still walk" He replied without looking in the young woman's direction...


...and with that, the pair carefully picked their way through the busying clean-up crews and emergency personnel to a waiting shuttle.

Two days later...





Vinda suddenly found himself on the beach once more…

He could feel the sun on his face, could hear the crashing of the waves against the shore, a constant rhythmical sound of constant reassurance…



Seth…



Sure enough, she was waiting for him , again, and she was smiling!


That smile! By the force! how he had missed that smile!


Except Vinda could not be sure whether he was dreaming or whether he was…


Seth…


The vision started to fade…no, be replaced instead by …


He struggled to keep sight of her , but she faded into another…




“Seth”

Vinda opened his eyes slowly , blinking at the bright interior of the medical facility, and focused with effort on the woman who was calling his name, a nurse or a doctor of some description…

“Where am I? who the hell are you? What happened? Where’s Achinta? , wheres my daughter” The old man asked suddenly, firing off questions as quick as they were coming to him…

She laughed, and rested her hands on her hips as she replied “Now that’s no way to greet the person who’s helping you. My name is nurse Foster and you are in medicant 5 hospital…”

“You’ve slept so long we were staring to worry about you..” The female nurse said , deftly deflecting his barrage of questions away, much to the Vinda-Corp figurehead’s annoyance

“You have a visitor, by the way” She followed up quickly…

The corporate man didn’t seem to hear her , but instead seemed more intent in getting out of bed. As he did a dull aching sensation began to spread down his arm…

He froze, and grimaced slightly, looking down his arm (now in a sling) suddenly remembering why…

“How long have I been asleep” He demanded, his voice becoming somewhat hoarse…

“Almost two days!, and don’t even think about getting out of bed, doctor’s orders, you’ve had quite enough excitement I’d say, anyway there is someone here to see you…” Nurse foster said quickly…

Vinda glared at her… “Damnit woman, answer my questions!” He answered ill temperedly…and before the nurse could reply another voice interrupted the two, soft feminine and warm…


“I’m fine”


Vinda turned his head to the direction of a voice, and felt his heart skip a beat…


“Natalya” He found was all he could say.

His eyes settled on the figure of his daughter, properly, as she regarded him in return. For the first time taking in her features, her long dark hair, her slender build, and her eyes…

All at once it struck him at just how much Natalya looked like her mother.

So much like her mother….


She was beautiful.


All at once he felt a surge of pride.


The feeling threw him so much , it threatened to overcome him.

He had so much he wanted to say, so much he wanted to tell her about, so much he wanted her to know, but truth be told he had no idea where to start…

He took a moment to compose his words, then spoke…

“WHAT THE BLOODY HELL DID YOU THINK YOU WERE DOING? ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR BLOODY MIND!?” He blurted out suddenly…

Natalya blinked, clearly taken aback.

“I‘ve had half the bloody galaxy out looking for you! What you did was reckless! No …worse than reckless it was BLOODY STUPID BEYOND BELIEF! You could have gotten yourself killed!” He ranted loudly…

Natalya interrupted angrily…“you’re lucky I came back at all!” She replied raising her voice over his…

“I COME ALL THIS WAY TO TRY TO WARN YOU, TO SAVE YOU AND THIS IS THE THANKS I GET?” Natalya was now furious…

“Save? SAVE? Is that what you call it? I GOT SHOT!” (Vinda interjected, pointing to his arm)…

“Yeah? Well , TOO BAD THEY MISSED!” She shouted, and with that stormed out of the room…

Vinda would have followed , had he not been bedridden, instead he was left sitting up, and fuming to himself…

Nurse Foster, who had not had the chance to leave the room before the heated exchange, cleared her throat conspicuously…

"well..."

Vinda turned his glare over to her instead…

“what?” he asked irritably…

“ I thought that went well…” She responded.

The Corporate man simply stared at her, lost for words.

…Why did I bother!…


Natalya, still stewing, exited the hospital doors with her fists clenched , barely registering the looks and murmurs of those she walked past, as they recognised who she was.

Since the events two days ago, Natalya had suddenly become famous virtually overnight, she was now in the limelight, whether she liked it or not.

It seemed she could not go anywhere on Bonadan without being recognised.

Though, that, right at this moment was not the focus of her thoughts.

The young woman took a moment to compose herself, sighed emphatically, then breathed in the fresh air as she took a seat on one of the chair situated just outside the ward’s entrance. Usually frequented by heavy smokers.

She was angry, but mainly angry at herself.

What did she expect?


That everything would be perfect? Peaches and cream?


The truth is Natalya hadn’t had any idea about what to expect.

She was also now annoyed at herself for being wound up so easily. These past weeks had inevitably taken a heavy emotional toll, and her patience was thin.

…What now?…

Natalya bowed her head and hung her face in her hands, trying to gather her thoughts.


It was at this moment , while she was distracted, she had not noticed someone take a seat beside her.

“You both have been through a lot. It’ll take to time to adjust “The stranger said quietly, his voice was familiar, and reassuring.

Natalya did not stir, but merely issued a half-hearted smile as she recognized the voice.

He continued.

“I stopped by to see your father and nurse Foster told me what happened. He does care about you Natalya, a lot more than you think”

The young woman glanced up and found Kaneda looking back at her, but said nothing sensing he wasn’t finished… “he’s just not sure about how to show it…yet”

The Section agent said insightfully.

“Well , he has a funny way of showing it” She complained..

“I know we hardly know each other but, the longer I stay here the more I’m beginning to think we don’t have anything in common” She continued somewhat distant.

Kaneda chuckled slightly at this remark, and relaxed into the seat, shaking his head.

“What?” Natalya said, with the traces of a frown starting to creep upon her face.

“You really can’t see it can you?” Kaneda said, looking at her bemused, almost as if in on some private joke she wasn’t…

“Kaneda…What?” Natalya wasn’t amused now, and the sutble hint of irritation carried in her voice.

“you’re both so much alike, the pair of you, stubborn. I think you have a lot more in common than you realise”

Natalya stared at him, marginally offended, yet tellingly struggled to come up with a reply…

“I have known your father for many years now Natalya, and while I have not known you for as long, I knew as soon as I met you , you were his daughter…” He grinned…

“I…” Natalya wanted to object , but as Kaneda’s words sunk in , she realised he was probably right.


…damn you…


The young woman threw him a defeated glance…but remained stubbornly silent.

“Once he learned of your existence, he did everything in his power to get you back. When he found out I had known before he, and not told him, he was not happy…and who could blame him? I would have been just as angry” Kaneda raised his eyebrows as if to emphasise his words…

“In fact, I am lucky I still have a job…” He quipped wryly…

Natalya suddenly felt a flash of guilt, remembering what she had asked him of him…

“I’m sorry I put you in that position Kaneda…” She said apologetically…

He smiled and said jokingly “Its fine, I have been in worse situations”

It was Natalya’s turn to smile, realising that where Kaneda was concerned, that was probably true.

With that, the young woman slowly got up from the seat, and took a deep breath, composing herself to face what lay ahead.

“where are you going?” Asked the Section agent, prompted by her movement.

Natalya did not say anything, but as she walked away she glanced back at him over her shoulder and threw him a smile, knowing he knew exactly where she was going.

Vinda looked up to see his daughter standing in the doorway with her arms crossed defensively, as their eyes met, the familiar furrow across his brow he was still wearing disappated a little.

He had not expected her to come back quite so soon after their heated exchange…

The frown did not recede completely however.

“come back to apologise?” he asked briskly…

“I haven’t got anything to apologise for” She said flatly.

Vinda snorted, and his eyes narrowed…

The corporate man felt a rush of annoyance, and shook his head…

“What you did was completely irresponsible Natalya” He said disapprovingly…

Natalya stepped forward into the room with her eyes narrowing and her jaw growing visibly tighter…

“You’re incredible do you know that!? After all I have been through! She said in disbelief

"Everything you have been through?" Vinda threw back incredulously...

“Did you ever to stop to think how I felt watching you go gallavanting off, doing goodness knows what? how do you think I felt then? Did it ever cross your mind?” His frustration spilled out…

That was it, the last straw, Natalya felt her patience snap, she could not hold back any longer.

“Do you have any idea what its been like for me! Finding out everything I had been told was a lie? I’ve had to live with a man who pretended to be my father for my entire life! All the while wondering why he seemed to despise me so. Have you any idea how that felt?" Natalya was in full steam now, and there was no stopping her.

"Do you have any idea how it feels to be told your own mother was murdered by someone? , then to find out after all this time everything you had believed or was told was a pack of lies!
To also find out the real murderer was in fact the same man I had been calling dad for the past 17 years!?
To learn the man you had been groomed to kill , was in fact your own fucking father!?" Her voice rose in volume as she continued...

"That’s aside from all the fucking shit that’s happened after! Let me tell you something ‘Father’ --(she used the term sardonically)-- You can count me out of meeting anymore of your old acquaintances!”

Vinda seemed to wince at that, but she did not give him the chance to reply...

“Do you have any idea how it feels to know your life has been a lie!”

Natalya felt her mouth dry up, and suddenly she found it hard to swallow, the lump that had developed in her throat now stuck fast like a stubborn blockage in a pipe.

The tears streamed down her cheeks, but she stood her ground, they felt hot and angry as she felt inside.

“WHERE WERE YOU?” She shouted accusingly, her voice now broken and strained by her outburst…

“WHERE WERE YOU WHEN I NEEDED YOU? WHERE WAS MY FATHER? WHY WEREN’T YOU THERE?” The young woman shouted at him suddenly overcome, her voice angry, and tear ridden. Natalya felt all her emotions that had been suppressed all this time, her entire life, flood out of her like a river which had burst its banks, and she found herself shaking involuntary.

Anger, fear, frustration, resentment, the feeling of betrayal, and loss…

Vinda simply sat there on the edge of his bed, and closed his eyes. Pained.

She could not have realised how deep her words cut.

He felt his own past scars begin to ache…

“ I DIDN’T EVEN KNOW YOU EXISTED!” He blurted back suddenly

“HOW THE HELL WAS I SUPPOSED TO KNOW ANY OF THIS?” He was standing upright now, out of his bed, bellowing.

“HOW DO YOU THINK I FELT LEARNING MY ONLY DAUGHTER WAS STOLEN FROM ME ALL THIS TIME, WITHOUT EVEN KNOWING I HAD ONE! ONLY TO FIND OUT SHE HAD BEEN TAKEN AGAIN!” The corporate man’s face reddened in both anger and exasperation…

“THEN WHEN I FINALLY DO SEE HER AGAIN TO FIND OUT SHE’S RUN OFF AFTER SOME NUT? HOW DO YOU THINK I FELT WATCHING YOU, MY ONLY DAUGHTER FALL TO HER DEATH ON THE DAMNED HOLONET FOR ALL THE GALAXY TO SEE?… HOW DO YOU THINK THAT FELT?”

“YEAH WELL WHY DO YOU FUCKING CARE WHETHER I LIVED OR DIED?” Natalya shouted back angrily… Vinda’s reply was instant, and without hesitation “BECAUSE I’VE ALREADY LOST YOU ONCE AND I DON’T WANT TO LOSE YOU AGAIN!” Its repercussions hit the pair of them the moment it was said.

Its effect was nothing short of miraculous.

A sudden silence descended upon the room, its effect heightened by the loud exchanges mere moments before. Natalya stunned into silence tilted her head and looked at him differently through tear drenched eyes, her expression softened…and her mouth opened agape…

“you…you mean that?” She asked cautiously through audible sniffs, as if fearing a kind of cruel trick, her voice now hoarse and quiet…

“Of course I bloody mean it” Vinda said stiffly, suddenly feeling very awkward…

He stepped forward and impulsively (with no small amount of pain) placed his palms on either side of her face, and slowly raised her head for her eyes to meet his. He wiped away her tears from her cheeks with each of his thumbs as he spoke to her…

“I’m sorry Natalya. Forgive me for not being there for you, but I promise you I won’t ever let you down again”

Natalya felt her tears well up again and placed her head upon his chest. Closing her eyes as she hugged him, she instantly felt a huge weight lift from her shoulders…

(It was long overdue)

The pair stood like that together for a while, until Natalya's voice broke the silence.


“you promise?” She asked softly, her voice suddenly and unusually timid….

“I promise” He answered in reply.


“I forgive you…” (She whispered…)

The old man looked down at her in mild surprise, and sensing it she looked back up at him…

As his gaze settled upon hers, he smiled warmly.

“You have your mother’s eyes…” He said without thinking.

Natalya simply smiled and said nothing, but returned her head to his chest and clung on tighter.


They had some catching up to do.

(about 19 years worth to be precise)


…but it was a start…


What lay ahead for both of them remained to be seen, in a time of great change and great tumult, a pair unwittingly divided by hate, were now united.

A simple beginning in a new chapter, perhaps even in a new era, had started…

...and...

...all great deeds, all great movements, all great events start from a simple act. A humble, almost insignificant act.