The Ties That Bind Issue 2

Valorna was in trouble, she was lost, deep in lowsec, and she didn’t have the Ralpha Dogs to back her up this time. She was hidden deep in an asteroid field but there were pirates everywhere, it was only a matter of time before they found her.

“Gods help me, if they find me and figure out who I am I’ll be a slave myself, and then it’ll be me needing rescuing!” she said in a high, panicky voice. “Wait a sec, what the hell? Where are they going?” she asked herself. Sure enough all those pirates were heading off to the gate and jumping one by one.

“Thank the Gods! They’ve given up, guess I’m not such easy prey for those assholes after all!” she chortled. “Now to check with my scanners, just to be sure, it’s like Erbo said, it’s not good enough to see what’s in front of your face, you gotta watch your six too!”

The scanners confirming that she was all alone, she extended the scan to search for life forms, a very specific life form, one that had both Gallente AND Minmatar dna. “Come on daddy, I know your out there, talk to me!” she murmured.

Suddenly, she got a hit, SEVERAL hits, about 68 KM away. “It looks like a small colony, but either he’s there, or there is someone else in my Daddy’s situation, I have to find out!”

to be continued

The Ties That Bind

Valorna Edgeworth was anxiously pacing in her quarters back at Ralpha Dogs HQ as she struggled with the latest assault to her personal code of ethics. “What do I do? I hate all the killing this life has brought me to. I mean come on, they have me out there killing people who are freeing slaves…he was a slave once…did they recapture him?”

Valorna stops in the middle of her room, lost in memories of her childhood, recalling her father, still missing after all these years, oh how she missed his easy smile and the way he was always ready with a hug when she was hurt. “Where are you daddy?” she whispered as a sob caught her throat.

“Val honey? Are you ok?” It was Selena, one of her best friends here at the Ralpha Dogs, and she looked worried.

“Oh, Selene, I can’t stand it, I have to try to find him!” Valorna whispered brokenly. “It’s the mission from today, isn’t it? It’s got you missing your daddy again? Girl, you gotta know that by now he’s either dead, or good as…I know it’s hard, but sometimes you just gotta let go.” she said reasonably.

“Look, you stay here and think about it, and let me know what you want to do, you know Erbo and I are here for you, no matter what.” she said as she headed for the door.

As I sat down on the bed I took out an old vid mama shot of daddy swinging me up in the air like I was a bird and I realized then, I had to go, Selena didn’t know it but I had heard news, news that daddy was still alive, but he was FAR away, all the way over in lowsec. “I can’t ask them to go with me, I can’t ask them to take the risk, I’ll just go tonight, after they’ve fallen asleep. God, please help them understand”

I laid down on my bunk then, for what would possibly be the last time, with tears streaming silently down my face…”Forgive me Selena, forgive me Erbo, but I have to try…”

The next morning, Selena and Erbo spoke of Valorna’s issue over breakfast…

“I know you’re worried Selena, but she would tell us if she’d heard anything new, I’ll tell you what, why don’t I go over to her quarters and talk to her? It’s her day off so she should still be here.” Erbo said reassuringly. Selena touching Erbo on the arm looks at him carefully, “I hope your right my love, but I have a bad feeling about this one, why don’t I go with you? Between the two of us she’s sure to open up.”

And so they make their way over to Valorna’s quarters, unaware that she’d left hours ago in her new Thorax.

As they made their way out of the transport, Erbo knew immediately that something was wrong. Val ALWAYS listened to her music full blast in the morning while she worked out, it was part of her routine, and she NEVER missed it! Erbo and Selene looked at each other, faces full of worry and they both ran as fast as they could that last 200 feet from the transport doors, Selena pushed the switch to open Vals door and what they saw made them freeze, it was empty, except for an old vid, and a note.

Selena picked up the note and read:

Dear Selena and Erbo,

I hope you can find it in you to forgive me, but I can’t let you risk yourselves for my family.  I just have to do this, I recieved word that my father may still be alive, so I’ve gone to his last known location, deep in lowsec.  I’m so sorry, I love you both, and pray that you can forgive me.

Love always,

Valorna Edgeworth

 

To be continued….