Radiance: Part One

L12: Uncertain Endings

Ryrr the 9th, 5694 CE; 0645 hrs

"Is it safe?" Lyda swallowed, watching Hettie's expression falter. "Is everyone still safe? It's been two days- I just need some answers. How are my people?"

"Everyone but the king survived. None of your people were harmed. The repairs have already been made and Princess Mara has offered to stand in until Vyrik can lay his father to rest." Mara stood next to her.

Lyda cocked their head in confusion. "Are you in a different bunker? I thought that you were all separate?"

"We had been speaking with Ymarah when it happened, the three of us are down here together, and General Wei is with Lane." Mara smiled.

"You were hanging out in the dead of night?" Lyda cocked their head.

"We can discuss that later." Mara held up her hand calmly. "I- I wasn't as close to my father. I'm still upset, of course, but father was an intricate part of my brother's life and I know that he will need time to heal, just as you did. I only need him to affirm."

Vyrik walked up behind Lyda and casually put an arm around their shoulders. "What am I doing?" he had large bags under his eyes, even after sleeping for the majority of the day. He was having trouble with his grief, and Lyda had been doing their best to help him. After their first day, he'd become a bit more physically clingy, and seemed...afraid.

"I need you to hand off control to me, so you can heal. You need to speak to a professional and you will need to be in charge of his affairs. Hettie has already done some of the work- you both simply need each other. Our family needs each other. I've been thinking heavily on the subject and now that this has come to a head, we ought to switch our arrangement around." Mara's posture was board straight.

"You mean...I should travel? In the midst of all of this? What says the council?" Vyrik swallowed thickly.

"Magnus thinks that it would make sense. Also we have begun infiltrating The Gray. We both managed to overestimate and underestimate them..." Hettie sighed. "They only built one bomb. It wasn't even laced. There's been a complete eradication of their leadership, and we will begin the reeducation process with their entirety in orbit, under the guidance of the council in a week's time. A lot has happened. There will be a trial. But we all came to the agreement that Vyrik, in his grief, will not be clear headed enough to enact judgment. Mara, on the other hand, seems ready to step up. She said it was already somewhat discussed."

"It was. In the gym, a few days ago." Vyrik nodded. "I want to disagree, but I can't find the strength for lies."

"It is a sign of strength to admit your weaknesses to those you keep close. I think you'll find that I have quite the knack for handling press. You seem better equipped for new interactions- and it would bode well for other planets to know that you are in an interspecies relationship. It shows how strongly you are able to bond away from your own blood. Prejudice is the entire reason that this happened." Mara grimaced.

"Send me the document. I'll affirm it now. Get it out of the way. All I can manage to do is sleep, and that sleep only brings me stress." He wrapped his arms around Lyda from the back and rested his chin on their head.

"It's about time I spend a while at home." Mara nodded. It had been over two decades.

"I-I'm sorry you didn't have much of a relationship with him..." Vyrik sighed.

"Don't be. Father and I didn't agree on much. I'll still miss him. It just...doesn't sting quite as badly. I suppose I'm really the lucky one here." She laid her head on Hettie's shoulder.