Rise and Fall- Discovery

Forgiveness

Luka wanted so badly to give a smart mouth  remark in response of Reagan's threatening phrase but he bit his lip. He balled up his fist, wanted to release his rage, and returned to the cockpit of the plane.  he side glanced at the tracking controls and grinded his teeth. He felt devious, disobeying Death Storm's orders, but he would serve no one. Luka rolled his eyes and shook his head. He knew they shouldn't be doing this and that it might cause them harm but Reagan was terrifying when she gives out demands. Reagan was his sister so he felt compelled to listen to her words. On the other hand, her plan could get them into hot water and possible get both of them killed or the babies. What would he even say when he came face to face with Grainger. They where enemies, currently. It didn't have to be this way. Luka felt partly responsible for Grainger's fall but there was nothing he could do.  Luka, still contemplating on the ethics of pushing the tracking button, yearned for his mother. She was always good in situations like this and she would know what to do. He took one last look at the button before reaching his hand up and slamming it in. He felt the fear rising inside him. Part of him knew that they where going to find Grainger but he didn't believe it. He didn't want it to be true. He couldn't face Grainger, at least not now. He got his butt handed to him earlier in the week and his ego wasn't completely healed yet. He was shot down, literally, by his little brother. he couldn't stand the thought of having a redo of the past. Not now- not with so many lives on the line. Luka knew he would have to prepare himself for this battle. Reagan came behind him, standing in the doorway.

"What are you thinking about?" she asked.

"...Nothing...." Luka jumped.

"I know you were plotting. You were thinking about Grainger and what you are going to do to him. Luka, let go of the past. It will only come to haunt you." Reagan suggested.

"That's the thing. I can't let go. The past is what makes me who I am and gives me purpose." Luka argued.

"If the past is what makes you strong and fight with a purpose, then you are a weak person. You shouldn't have to rely on the past to draw your compassion. We are products of our past, but we don't have to be prisoners of it. My past is everything I failed to be, everything I ever wanted and hoped but would never become." Reagan explained.

"Yes but, the past is never dead. It's not even past. The past is only a measure of time but I am timeless. I will never grow old of reflecting on my decisions ." Luka impressed upon.

"If you dwell on the past, you will never get to experience the present and the future. You will miss out on life." Reagan continued.

"I..." Luka started.

"Unless, you are afraid of the future. You are afraid of Grainger, aren't you?" Reagan theorized.

"I am not afraid of him, I am afraid of what he will do..." Luka sighed.

"Instead of fearing what he might do, fear what he might not do. Stop living in the past and get your head out of the clouds. You are smart, Luka, but all of us need you to be the hero. And heroes face their fears. That is what makes them strong and gives them power of their fears. If you want to continue crying about the past, by all means, do that but if you want to be a hero for once, step up and fight for what you want." Reagan pointed up.

Luka frowned, he couldn't tell if she as being supportive and giving him a pep-talk or if she was just being her snarky self and trying to prove herself right- like always. Luka wrinkled up his nose and sneered at Reagan. She smirked back, narrowing her eyes.

Grainger snuck into the escape pod, for the second time in the same week. He pushed the engines ignition as he watched Death Storm come thundering down the stairs after him. At last, they had figured out what he was doing. Grainger's heart rate increased rapidly as he made his escape. He didn't know what his family would say. He feared their reactions to his sudden turn back. He knew he had lost their trust, especially Reagan and Luka. They, after all, were close with Sofia and now she is gone and he is responsible or her death. To Grainger, loosing someone's trust was like balling up a piece of paper- it didn't matter how hard he tried to fix it, it would never be the same. The paper would be weakened and broken. Trust takes years to build, seconds to break, and forever to repair. With the crimes that Grainger committed, he we never regain their trust. What more could he do? There was no use in trying to apologize as he knew it would never work.  He was the outcast of the family now and there was no going back. He had arrived at the point of no return. Everything that he had done was done and the lives were taken and forever changed. For better or for worse, Grainger will never forgive himself. His ship rose higher and higher into the night sky. The stars glimmered as she sweet smell of fresh air flowed threw the ship. Grainger considered his options. He knew that the galaxy was on the brink of war and that there was harm coming to others. Would they really want a villain protecting them though? Maybe they would just kill him off and leave him to die. They would turn on him just as they did his mother, Malice. Grainger couldn't bare the thought. He knew for  a fact that he needed to get back to his siblings if there was any hope in controlling the situation and saving the galaxy. Luka wasn't the only one who was afraid to face their fears. Reagan was an expert at burying her emotions but at some point, they would rise to the top and take over her mental control. Grainger's fate walks on broken glass. His thoughts have taken their toll on his life. His mind broke the spirit of his soul. This is what started him down this dark path to begin with. He promised himself that he would never make such horrid and terrible decisions in his life ever again. The was a slight possibility of forgiveness but it was very, very, slim. Was there something unique about Grainger that kept all these people on his side for so long? Deep down, below the burning rage and the crippling sadness, he knew his family would forgive him. They where his family after all. No one could replace him and he was all they had. He could and would serve as a reminder of what it looks like to have completely lost all hope and let your emotions overshadow your intentions.