Gone

45.

Once they arrive at the Command Center Amoura follows Austin to the his office, "you ready it's almost time." Austin says as he sits down and opens his jacket so he can breathe.

"Yeah, I think I am." He looks at her amused.

"Then why are you pacing?" Amoura stops and looks at him, its finally hit her she is going to be in Command, something she never asked for, is she doing the right thing?

"I'm the youngest Commander ever," He gives her a look oddly curious at her display of raw emotion.

"So?" He questions her.

"I'm also a Captain. A very very particular Captain. I don't do things like everyone else. They'll think I'm inexperienced. Hell, I think I'm inexperienced! And I am, I'm close two two years than ten," Amoura mutters as worries she didn't see coming arise.

"Since when what others think to matter to you?" He asks her as he relaxes on the sofa.

"Since I realized it can affect the authority I'm supposed to have," He looks at her friting in her shoes.

"And when did you realize that?" 

"Just now. Well no but it's just now hitting me on what that means, I dont back down Austin, that's not always good because I could be wrong, hence the lack of experience which is why you shouldn't pick me," He smiles at her before getting serious.

"I didn't take notice of you until after you got here, but when I saw the way you take charge and lead even when you're not even in the center of it," he goes quiet, he looks at her and she is lost. She doesn't see it.

"Granger saw your brilliance from the beginning, he picked you because he saw you. He saw that William's balanced you, the two of you worked together he wanted you to grown and William's was the perfect person to help, he knew he was a leader, he was an Alpha, he had the confidence you were missing, the confidence you should have," he looks at her, last lesson.

"Do you know which Commander gave General Granger permission to save you?" He asks her.

Amoura freezes, "no I never stopped to ask," she mutters.

"Why?" He asks already knowing the answer.

"Because I would rather know who was the Commander who ordered the entire unit to be murdered," she speaks fiercely.

He nods, "you will do everything in your power to save lives. You will change S.I.D.O. With you here I know I can leave knowing there will be a change forming here. And it's you. You're fierce you fight, and don't count yourself you know how to lead, you are a natural born leader you just didn't know it because you were sheltered, you learn more from your parents than you think Amoura. I've meet the Stone Alphas. You are their daughter alright. Granger saw it from the beginning. Alzack did too and he taught you the darkness in everyone, you see what it looks like now, you can spot it. You can stop it Stone. You're only burden now is yourself, you need to see your worth Amoura Stone," Amoura looks at him.

He steps back and smiles, he wasn't one to be serious, besides she should get it now, "so relax Stone. We wouldn't be here if I didn't think you were ready."

He walks back to the sofa and makes himself at home once more.

"That's easy for you to say, you're retiring," Amoura bites back, Austin laughs as he sits back.

"Bever thought I'd see you nervous," she stops pacing to give him a look.

"This isn't the time for your jokes or wish list." 

He gets up and fixes his jacket as the door opens, "on the contrary, the fact that I'm retiring and having the one person I wanted as my successor replace me means it is time for jokes and for wish lists. Now my wife's wish of living overseas. I guess a thank you is in order for just happening to be living in Tuscany," she chuckles.