Malan frowned as he brought the ship down towards the planets landing pad at a gentle clip. Below, he could see an array of new ships clustered in the planets port. Several planetary security craft lay idling on the outskirts of the cluster which was more than to be expected with the uproar he'd caused. But what really drew his gaze, was the cruiser that bore the mark of a single eye in the centre of a nine-spoked wheel, inlaid upon the centre of each of its wings in rich gold.

It rested ominously across from the worse for wear Sparrow, his display already highlighting a series of scurrying mechanics carrying out repairs to the hardy craft, whilst the landing pad he was on course to arrive at sat directly between the two.

The displays magnified in response to his desire, and Malan was able to pick out a series of new figures clustered around Elena and the wide-eyed Lugh Talorcan. One of the new arrivals, a grizzled military type, read as Lv. ???, just as Standarr and Elena did, and Malan found himself wishing he had been able to slow down his descent and choose his class before coming here.

He studiously ignored the subtle itch at his shoulder—the subconscious awareness that Namhai had descended with him, stealth engaged, in order to ensure his compliant return to the Nexus. On the other hand, he was grateful to the cold aspected Starbound for allowing Bessna and Iven’s children to be transported to his own ship. His displays told him they still slept huddled together in his own bed, resting after their ordeal.

In the end, it had taken him at least ten minutes to land and equip his groundsuit, but it had felt like seconds. Somehow, the idea of meeting people from the UGC and the Nexus for the first time as Starbound had him just as anxious as diving headfirst into combat. At least up there, he’d known Eclipse’s intentions—even if those intentions had been to blow him out of the sky.

This was an altogether different beast.

Tanwen’s exit ramp began its descent, and Malan flexed his fingers, marvelling at the feel of an increase in strength and dexterity since the last time he’d worn it, before stepping down into the jungle air.

Glancing around at the assorted, sweat-coated individuals, he was immediately glad for the cool air flowing around his suit. Elena nodded at him from a crate sat haphazardly beside the Sparrow, whilst Thaddeus—who Malan had almost forgotten about—avoided his eyes and wrung his hands.

On the other side, he watched the military woman he’d seen from Tanwen’s bridge draw up her chest and square her shoulders. Now he was closer, he could see the coloured stripes and various uniform accruements that were indications of rank for UGC personnel on diplomatic detail. However, the athletic build and hard-lined face, spoke to what was perhaps years of field experience.

He was reminded of Elena, to an extent, though absent of his former Captain’s cool composure. This woman—a major, if he wasn’t mistaken—stalked towards him as, snarl on her face, as though he’d crossed her personally. His lack of a level context for her had him on guard, but where he would have been backpedalling a month ago, he ensured his body language gave no sign of trepidation or fear as she approached.

“What in the fuck made you think you had the right to call us and make demands, you ignorant, self-important—”

The Major had begun her half-hissed tirade several steps away from him, but the moment she was close enough, she had reached out a finger to jab at his chest. Malan hadn’t meant to react at all, but just for a moment he’d thought of Beric, and his arm snapped out and grabbed her wrist tight, cutting off her little speech.

Her eyes widened, and she tried to wrench her arm free, only to find him totally immovable. He was glad that she was unable to see his face, because it was split by an enormous, satisfied grin. The system measured her threat level as above his own. She likely had years of combat experience, training and other things that made her a deadly enemy to make.

But whilst he was wearing his groundsuit, and bolstered by his own stat growth? She was just an ordinary human. His augmented reaction time and strength now eclipsed hers by far.

The Major must have realised the same thing, because her face contorted into a furious snarl before her free hand darted to the pistol holstered at her thigh. Unbeknownst to her, the gauntlet attached to the hand pinning her blazed into life, ready to blow a hole in her stomach should she draw her weapon.

Fortunately, that wasn’t needed. Another woman had appeared beside the Major, crimson robed and stony faced. Her hand lay upon the Major’s shoulder, and she smoothly slid into place between the pair of them.

“I would not recommend that as a course of action, Major—unless, of course, you intend to die on this planet?”

Malan’s head shifted to take in the newcomer properly, unable to completely disguise his surprise. She was shorter in stature than the Major, with a subtly paler skin tone that spoke of one who had not spent much time exposed to the sun. Her crimson robes gave her away as a Nexus Scribe—researchers that spent their lives sequestered away in archives looking for information on celestial phenomena and the Starbound. They worked closely with the UGC, given the importance of their areas of expertise, but were not strictly part of, or under, them.

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

What surprised him most, however, was this woman’s age. She was just as young as he was. Shoulder-length coppery hair framed smooth features marred by the lightest dusting of freckles across her cheeks.

The Major’s mouth had snapped shut at the Scribe’s words, but she quickly re-found her footing. “This…Pilot…Disobeyed a direct order from UGC command. Put his craft at direct and immediate risk of capture—even threatened to hand it over to Eclipse of all people. By all rights, I should cuff him here and now, so the Starbound can be awarded to a proper Pilot.”

The Major made another attempt to wrest her grip from his, whilst also abandoning her attempt to draw her sidearm—the only reason that Malan allowed her the use of her arm back. He might have said something to defend himself, but the Scribe was faster to the proverbial draw.

“Even UGC citizens in Independent Space are not required by any law to obey UGC military directives, Starbound or not. This Pilot is bound to no command of yours or any UGC personnel until he has returned to the Nexus and sworn his oaths. Until he does so, he is simply another free citizen who also happens to Pilot a Starbound craft. A craft which, as it was found in Independant Space, the UGC holds no rights over. Unless, of course, you are insinuating that part of your role here is to coerce this free citizen into the UGC’s service?”

Malan could have scoffed. That was most likely exactly why the Major and her little escort were here, but to make that open would mean the UGC admitting to breaking just about every foundational law they had been formed with.

“Of course not,” the Major bit out, attempting to climb down. “I… merely wish to emphasise the extreme irresponsibility of the Pilot’s actions.”

The scribe raised an eyebrow. “And you required your sidearm to do so?”

Malan could almost hear the grinding of her teeth. Instead of responding, the Major turned back to him. “Make ready to leave within the hour. We will be escorting you directly to the Nexus.”

Malan squared his shoulders, and looked the woman dead in the eyes, though she couldn’t see.

“You are free to leave whenever you please, Major. My ship will set off for the Nexus, however, when I decide.”

The Major’s face devolved further into a mask of fury, but she merely clicked her teeth at them, and turned on her heel, marching briskly back to the ship she had arrived in. Only once she was fully gone did Malan notice Elena in the background subtly sliding her own sidearm back into its holster.

He turned to the Scribe who had intervened on his behalf. “Thank you…”

“Tarai,” she said, inclining her head slightly. “And you’re welcome. We need to talk, you and I. Preferably aboard Tanwen. But it can wait until you have completed the final part of your task.”

Malan followed Tarai’s gaze, and found an anxious-looking Bessna peering at him from beside Talorcan, who seemed to flinch as he realised Malan was looking in his direction. He raised a hand to wave her over, and the woman was rushing across the landing pad before his arm had made it even halfway above his head.

He made a mental request to Tanwen, and his Starbound played a noise in his quarters to signal to the children it was safe for them to follow him down the exit ramp. It probably hadn’t been a necessary precaution to leave them behind, but with so many unknown factors waiting for him, he hadn’t been willing to take any risks.

Now, they flew down his ship’s exit ramp arms outstretched, eyes trailing silvery tears. The pair blew past him without a word, and intercepted their mother halfway across the pad, barrelling into her arms.

Bessna collapsed to her knees, as she cradled her children close, her own tears streaming down her face as she whispered to them. After a moment, her eyes found his, and though she did not smile, the level of emotion conveyed to him from just one look stole his breath.

If he died now, having just accomplished this one good thing, part of Malan thought he could be satisfied with that. An entirely different part blazed with the rush of it. This was what he had been born for. What he’d survived the Jauda, and the Miotov for.

For another look like that, Malan would have done it all again in a heartbeat.

Eventually, Bessna stood, still clutching the hands of both children as though they might be snatched from her at any moment, and walked across to him. As they approached, the children hid themselves partially behind the older woman’s legs, but she smiled tremulously at him.

“I don’t know how to even begin thanking you for what you’ve done,” she said, head shaking slowly.

“Unnecessary. I’m glad I could help. What is your plan now?”

She glanced back towards Talorcan, frowning slightly. “We leave. Lugh meant well for the colony, really. But I can’t stay here with him making decisions.”

“I had wondered how Eclipse had managed to get such a strong foothold here.”

“We weren’t told that’s who they were for a good while. We’d been attacked by raiders multiple times. Lost a lot of people. Lugh told us he’d hired a private mercenary company as security—what he’d really done was cut a deal with Eclipse. Standarr was smart enough to get leverage on all the prominent scientists before we could get out.”

“Is Iven…”

“Gone already. He knew the UGC would never look beyond his past, no matter how or where he was living his life now. And no, I don’t know where he has gone, for the record.”

Malan shook his head. “I wasn’t going to ask. I’m sorry you can’t be leaving together.”

She shrugged and pulled her children tight to her once more. “Of all the possible ways this could have shaken out, any option where my children live is one I’m beyond grateful to have. Are you sure—”

“I’m sure. Go and live your life. Raise your kids well. Be safe. That’s plenty of reward for me.”

Bessna’s mouth quivered, as more tears threatened to spill. She slipped her hand away from her son’s, who hugged tightly into her leg, and cupped his helmet where his cheek would have been.

“You’re young, to have a conviction as strong as yours. Don’t let this path you’re walking change you as it has so many others. Thank you, Starbound.”

And with one last shaky smile, Bessna took her children and led them off toward the main colony. Toward their new life.

Alert:

Mission Complete

Sins of the Father: Rescue Bessna and Iven’s children from the clutches of the Eclipse

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