World In Turmoil

28: When Old Is Found New.

It wasn't the smell of The Basement. It was... so much more artificial. So much more...

Horrible. Acidic. Vile.

The smell now, stuck the very back of her throat. The rancid stink now fully registering.

Neuranic Coolant.

Starship fuel.

Her hands waved out to either side of her body as she steadied herself.
Was she...?

Her parents...?

Ren?

The gravity of it all fell on her.
The fear the evil the loss the guilt the awful day that now tormented her more!

"PAPA!" She screamed into the vast unrelenting void that surrounded her.
Swallowed her.
Consumed her.

Is this hell?

Is this purgatory?

Is this where those Last Stand Navy betrayers would go!?

Her very soul started to buckle.
In a panicked scream she restarted her cry.

"WHERE ARE YOU?"

She collapsed to the floor.
Not out of broken will.
But from sheer strain.

The ground was firm and reassuring. Cold, yet now not turning her away.

She sat there for what felt like eternity.

Until...

That distant line of light began to grow.
Grown and grow.

Until it was large enough that her hand could not cover it.

From the light, rushed a figure.
A strong figure, tall, robust and empowered it rushed toward her.

Three words echoing.

"Sweety I'm sorry!"

The thunder of his footsteps were like rain on a tin roof.

So very reassuring.

She rose. Sprinting off toward him.
Her father's location clarified.

From high above him, two enormous lights burned the very night away.

Bright glowing glory basking her.

Her father like a black silhouette in the blinding light.

She started to approach him.
He reached her first, embracing her.

"Its alright. I know its a shock.
I should of just left the door open for you."

She looked at him with bleary eyes.
"Door?"

He released her, holding still with one hand.
"Yes. The door to our... Come on."

She followed him viciously, not letting him stray from the huge encompassing light without her notice.

As they approached, she looked up at the two vast lights above her.
They were starship floodlights...

Slowly, she began to register the large vessel in front of her.

It was easily 100m long.

...

She shook herself, denying to remember the last ship she had seen...
Glowing fire. Rancid wind swept through her memories.

"Who's is this???" She queried to the vessel.

Martek stopped, and turned to her.
"I... I'm sorry you didn't get the truth before. We wanted to leave our old life behind. But this is our old vessel."

"THIS?"

He nodded softly, ushering her inside.

The 'door' was a two meter wide blastdoor that was the ships conventional entrance.

The metal staircase that extended down from it was a welcome matt version.
A small phrase melded into it's bottom step's very form.

"Viri Var."
"Forever We Are"

She puzzled it, before stepping upon it to reach the next step.
Her father clambered up behind.

She felt the soft rumble of a catalytic generator somewhere deep within the vessel.

From the door emerged her mother, the silent form quickly enveloping her daughter with a hug.
Martek joined from behind.

The three stood there.
Collectively overpowered and daunted.

But with a new hope.