I smiled. It wasn’t a solution, or a promise … but it was a willingness to try, and I would take what I could get.

  “Thank you,” I whispered as my own tears fell.

  Amorina chuckled and wiped off her wet cheeks.

  “Look at the pair of us, aye? Bawling our eyes out.”

  I chuckled. “It’s good, right? Good to let it all out.”

  “Yeah.” Amorina smiled sadly. “Come on, bring it in and give me a hug!”

  I didn’t need to be told twice and immediately stepped forward. I pulled Amorina into an embrace and lifted her off the ground.

  “Ooh!” she exclaimed in surprise.

  “I’ve missed you. I’ve missed this!” I whispered, burying my face in her neck and breathing in her scent deeply.

  “I missed you too,” she whispered back.

  Everything will be okay … right?

  Chapter 16

  All’s Well that Ends Well

  2163, Common Era – Earth, Inner Rim, the Republic of Humanity

  “Raith, do you have any last statements to make before this council delivers its verdict?”

  The great hall of the Republic Council was filled to capacity, and as I looked out at the sea of representatives, the air was filled with the sound of shuffling papers and murmurs. I scanned over the faces of the people who had grilled me for the last seven days. The delegation consisted of councillors from Machina Station in the Mid Rim, representatives from the Inner Rim worlds of Earth, Mars, Terranova, and Astarte, and a lone governor from the Frontier world of Akka.

  Their lines of questioning were thorough and intense – and rightly so.

  When did I become aware of Tynan’s existence? Had I taken appropriate steps to alert the Republic of the Empire’s resurrection? When did I become aware of the Horror’s existence? Why did I work with Tynan to attack the Horror? Why did I convince President Knox to work with Tynan rather than arresting or destroying him?

  On and on the questioning went, grilling every action, every choice, every move and thought I’d made over the last few years – though it didn’t feel that long to me.

  I surveyed the crowd and considered the many questions asked, searching for a final statement that could sway the council’s decision in my favour.

  “No, I have no further statement to make, councillors,” I answered with a shake of my head.

  “Very well then,” said the speaker of the house. “The council representatives will now give their final votes.”

  The sound of clicking buttons filled the room as each member leaned forward to cast their final votes on the desk panels in front of them. After a few moments, the speaker’s panel lit up, and they viewed the results.

  The speaker cleared his throat, then began his address. “The Republic Council’s verdict is as follows … on the charge of private correspondence with a foreign government, the council finds you … guilty.”

  Amidst the crowd, I was able to pick out President Knox. I’d discovered that she was the one who had made the bulk of the accusations against me, resulting in this week-long inquiry and the charges I now faced. Right now, she was smiling, but I hoped the further verdicts would erase her grin.

  “On the charge of using weapons of mass destruction, the council finds you … guilty.”

  I noticed the anxiety on the faces of Amorina, Ichirō, Emma, Adanna, Winona, and my father as they waited for the verdicts from the spectator seating. Already their faces were falling, twisting with despair at the two guilty verdicts.

  “On the charge of assisting or instigating the escape of a fugitive, the council finds you … guilty.”

  Tears flowed as my family’s reactions worsened. This wasn’t how we’d expected events would go. As painful as it was to lose my mother to her illness, I couldn’t help but feel grateful that she was spared the heartache of seeing these verdicts.

  “On the charge of destruction of Republic property, the council finds you … innocent.”

  I glanced over at Knox just in time to see her smug smile fade a little. I knew her accusations had been an act of self-preservation – an attempt to shift the spotlight and the blame away from herself. Every innocent verdict I got would be an extra area of scrutiny placed on her in her own up-and-coming trial.

  “On the charge of treason, the council finds you … innocent.”

  As Knox’s smile disappeared a bit more, I could feel my mouth curve upward at the corners.

  “On the charge of mass murder, the council finds you … innocent.”

  I really had to focus to not smile after that announcement – it probably wouldn’t be a good look to smile after they’ve said you didn’t commit mass murder.

  “And on the charge of crimes against humanity, the council finds you … innocent.”

  With a sigh of relief, I felt the tension leave my body. That was by far the worst charge that had been brought against me, and now it posed no threat. Knox’s smile had disappeared completely now, and I finally allowed myself to crack a slight grin.

  “That gives us three guilty verdicts and four innocent verdicts. Before we move forward, the council wants to recognise that while you have been found guilty on certain charges, the circumstances that led to your actions were beyond your control. They wish it to be noted that the final decision takes into account the extenuating circumstances.”

  I gave a quick nod of confirmation to the speaker. I knew that they’d designed the trial to be a show, to some extent, to prove to the Republic that those involved in the crisis would face consequences. Still, I was glad for that clarity – whilst they’d deemed me guilty, the sentence was going to be a soft ruling rather than a harsh one.

  “The council wishes to offer you a choice of sentence regarding the atonement you must face for these guilty verdicts. You can either endure three years of imprisonment, or five years as commander of Project RESTORE – the Restoration of Extrasolar Stella Territories, Organic and Residential Environments.”

  The speaker’s last statement caught me off guard; the idea of giving a convict a choice of sentence was unprecedented. I’d also never heard of Project RESTORE before.

  “Can I please get clarification of what this Project RESTORE is?”

  “Of course. Republic surveyors have evaluated Akka, Gaia, Ares, and Erebus and confirmed their terraformability. And thanks to the confiscated Empire vessels, we have a fleet of ships capable of being deployed to those worlds and carrying out the terraforming work. The ships are there, and we have provisioned the crews – all that remains is for someone to lead the project and ensure its successful delivery. Since you inadvertently played a hand in discovering or decimating those worlds, it seems only fair to offer you a chance to rebuild them.”

  Seeking guidance, I turned to my family, knowing that whatever I decided would have consequences for all of us. As I watched them, they focused on Amorina, waiting for her to make the initial choice. She held up two fingers, making the peace sign, and the family followed suit one by one – each holding up two fingers as well.

  “Thank you, councillors, for your leniency in this matter. I appreciate being given the choice of sentence and I gratefully accept the role of commander for Project RESTORE.”

  The speaker smiled and nodded. “And this council thanks you, Raith, for your actions in the face of insurmountable odds.”

  As the councillors rose to their feet and gave a round of applause, I smiled. This was a victory.

  [)
  Stepping out of the council building’s side entrance, the bright sunlight washed over me, and I couldn’t help but close my eyes and take a deep breath. Every world had its own unique air, a complex mixture of gases and smells, shaped by their elemental composition, the local flora and fauna, and the activities of its inhabitants. The air in the city, especially in the government district, was almost sterile, devoid of any natural or industrial scents. But I kind of liked it anyway, if only to appreciate its uniqueness, and that today it smelt like freedom.

  “Daddy!”

  My heart leapt at the sound of my youngest’s voice, and I opened my eyes just in time to see Emma racing towards me from my left, with the rest of the family trailing behind.

  “Hey there, sweetie pie! How you doin’?” I asked as I knelt down, and my daughter raced into my arms.

  “I’m good, Daddy. Are you okay?” she replied, radiating joy.

  Seeing her smile was one of the few things that brought me true happiness, and I grinned in return. “Yes … yes I am.”

  It was a rare moment of genuine happiness that I savoured with every fibre of my being. Parents must often reassure their children that all is well, even when it isn’t, because adult issues are not for children to bear. Thus, it made it all the more satisfying when we could actually, and honestly, say things are good.

  “Well done, son,” my father said as the family caught up to us.

  I let go of Emma and stood up, then my father pulled me into a hug.

  “I’m proud of you,” he whispered in my ear.

  As Father let go and stepped back, Adanna and Winona stepped forward and hugged me simultaneously.

  “Hey Dad!” they both said.

  “Hello my dears! I’ve missed you both so much!”

  The weight of lost time hit me as I held them, and I felt my eyes moistening with tears. It’d been almost three years since I’d seen them last. I’d already missed so much of their lives, and now I’d lost even more time with them.

  “We’ve missed you as well!” Winona replied, her voice wavering as she spoke.

  We let go of each other and I held them at arm’s length, taking a moment to gaze at my daughters’ faces. They looked a little older, a little wiser, but it filled my heart with happiness that they both appeared to be healthy and happy.

  “You both look … fantastic! I look forward to hearing all about your adventures!”

  “We can’t wait to hear about your adventures!” Adanna replied with a grin.

  I chuckled. “There’ll be time for that as well!”

  I turned towards Amorina, who smiled and gave a subtle nod. “Well done, Raith. It was a good outcome,” she said quietly. I nodded in reply and swept my gaze over all of my family.

  “Well, I just want to say thanks to all of you!” I said gratefully. “Your support meant the world to me.”

  “Ah, we didn’t do anything,” said Ichirō with a dismissive wave of his hand. “In fact, we couldn’t do anything. It’s been … really hard watching them grill you and not being able to interact with you until the trial was over.”

  I nodded, appreciative of my son’s honesty. “I know it’s been hard – and you were all amazing. Even if you felt like you were powerless to help, your presence was everything! Looking over and seeing you all there and, more importantly, knowing that you were all safe – that gave me the strength to keep going.”

  Ichirō nodded, but his furrowed brow and shifting gaze betrayed his unease.

  “What’s on your mind, son?”

  “What if … what if they work out you lied?”

  Father, Adanna, and Winona exchanged confused looks, and I motioned for Ichirō to follow.

  “Give us a minute, guys,” I said to the others, and they all nodded in understanding.

  After walking a few metres away with Ichirō, I turned and placed a hand on his shoulder.

  “Listen … the system can be very black and white. Either you’re good or you’re bad. Either you’re right or you’re wrong. Sometimes that system works … but often, it doesn’t because it can’t account for all the grey complexities of the real-world.”

  “Yeah, I get that but –”

  “Let me finish, please,” I said, cutting Ichirō off.

  He nodded, and I continued.

  “There isn’t a single person on that council who can understand what it’s like to be in your shoes. They don’t know and will never know what it’s like to remember whilst everyone else forgets. Nor can they understand the complexity that that would add to one’s decision making. As such, if they knew that you’d joined Tynan for a time – that you’d worked alongside him – odds are, they’d simply paint you as a criminal, and they’d punish you like one too.”

  A tear ran down Ichirō’s face and he nodded.

  “But we both know that at your core you’re a good kid. I know I didn’t know her very well, but your mother, Alyssa, did a good job raising you.”

  “But what happened with Tynan …”

  “Sure – you made mistakes. And look, I get it – that man demanded devotion from everyone around him. A devotion that was drummed into you since you were a child, and as we know, it’s a devotion that you still remember all too well. If I thought my father had been reborn, a father I was loyal to, I probably would’ve stood by his side as well.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah, mate. Listen: I covered that up, first of all because, like I said, they wouldn’t have understood the situation, and second of all, you deserve a second chance. But I need to make something very clear. Just because I swept this under the rug doesn’t mean you’re off the hook.”

  “I know,” Ichirō nodded solemnly.

  “Do you? That path – Tynan’s path – it’s a very dark road to walk down. It’s very easy to lose your way and potentially never find your way back. Like me, I think you’ll need to work on that dark side of yourself each and every day. To look in the mirror and remind yourself which path you should walk down. And if you choose the darkness – if you choose to make evil choices – I will not protect you. You would have to face your own consequences then. Do you understand?”

  “Yes,” Ichirō replied, wiping the tears off his cheeks. “Thank you.”

  “What for?”

  “For believing in me and showing me … kindness, compassion … and love. For giving me a second chance.”

  “Of course. You’re my son,” I said as I pulled him into a hug.

  I let him go, and we turned back towards the family together. “Come on – let’s re-join the others.”

  We walked back over to the family, and I gave a subtle nod to the others – a reassurance that all was well.

  “Thanks for waiting, guys. Alright, let’s find somewhere to dine and celebrate our victory and reunion! Then tomorrow, we depart for Gaia!”

  I watched as Father, Adanna, and Winona exchanged a glance.

  “What’s going on?”

  “The girls have something to tell you,” Father said.

  “Okay,” I said with a shrug. “Fire away!”

  “Well, when we arrived on Earth it was with the refugees,” Adanna said, “and it’s been almost two years since then.”

  I nodded, although I wondered where they were going with this.

  “Earth is very different to Gaia – there’s so many more people here, so many more things to do,” said Winona.

  Clarity dawned on me.

  “And we’ve reconnected with old friends and made new friends, and Winona’s even got a boyfriend!” Adanna added.

  Winona’s face immediately turned bright red, and as she looked away, I understood the point they were trying to make.

  They want to stay.

  They’d had lives here prior to us taking them to Gaia, and from the sounds of things, they’d picked up right where they’d left off. Earth, understandably, felt like home to them.

  “Anyway,” Winona huffed. “We’ve also both been looking at going to university. We’ve found courses we like, they’ll let us in, and Grandpa was able to talk to the government, and because of who you are, they’ll pay for our tuition.”

  “And before you ask,” said Father, now chipping in as well. “I’ll stay here and keep an eye on them. There’s nothing for me on Gaia anymore, not with the planet decimated and your mother gone. Plus, I’m tired and damn near too old to go gallivanting back across the stars – you can only go into cryo so many times before you’re sick of that shit they pump into you.”

  “Additionally, our mothers are here as well – they got evacuated from Gaia too. So, between them and Grandpa, we won’t be alone or left without support close on hand,” Adanna added.

  I smiled sadly, knowing I didn’t really have a choice in the matter. They were adults now, and they had their own lives to live – their own stories to write. “Well, it sounds like all of you have this planned out.”

  “I mean, we do, but we kinda wanted to make sure that you and Ma were okay with us staying.”

  I looked over at Amorina, who smiled sadly as well. “You girls … gosh, we can’t really call you that anymore,” she said with a chuckle. “You’re both young women now.”

  “Intelligent, kind, and compassionate young women,” I added.

  “Exactly. And your father and I are very proud of you, and we’re sorry we’ve not been around for a few years.”

  “It’s okay. We understand you were surviving a tyrant and saving humanity while you were at it,” said Adanna.

  “Be that as it may, we’re still sorry. Of course, you can both stay on Earth. But I expect regular updates on how life is going – like, at least once a fortnight!” said Amorina.

  “Of course!” Winona replied.

  “And we’re thrilled that you’re going to study as well. Do you know what courses you’re going to do?” I asked.

  “I’m going to do a degree in warp engineering,” Adanna said.

  “And I’ll be doing a science degree, double majoring in cryogenics and cellular biology,” replied Winona.

  “Those sound like fantastic areas of study!” Amorina exclaimed, spreading her arms for an embrace.

  As mother and daughters hugged, Emma included – least she missed out on a family hug – I turned towards Ichirō.

  “What would you like to do, son?”

  “I want to come with you,” Ichirō replied without missing a beat.

  “And I want to come with you too!” Emma cried.

  The group laughed, much to Emma’s indignation. “I’m serious!” she insisted.

  “We know you are, sweetie pie. Of course you’re coming with us – we’d miss you too much otherwise!”