Lost Empire

Chapter 56

0001 - Tempro

0003 - Conner- Thomas

0097 - Ace - Zimmel

0098 - Lucy

0101 - Shelby (mother ship) - Derrick

0125 - Lars

0200 - Ellen

0301 - Rodrick

0403 - Johnathon

0667 - Marco - Brown

0778 - Jan

0798 - Celeste - Shelby (human)

0908 - Tara - Mara

0999 - Zan

1000 - Sherry - Lucie (for the moment)

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Mara was clutching Daniel Norman, a full Colonel as desperately tight as she could. Sobbing into his chest she was terrified that if she let go he might disappear as if he were made of smoke. Pulling him tighter to her, her sobs increased in volume as everyone in the chow hall was quiet.  

Daniel Norman could only stand there holding his daughter. It was too good to be true she was here, she was alive. Wait! She was a Captain? A fleet captain? A look of shock then surprise crossed his face as he nodded. He knew his old commander; if he'd promoted her to Captain then he knew she more than deserved it. Looking at the monitoring cameras Daniel nodded again then mouthed the words, 'thank you commander.'

Derrick was nodding when he saw the Colonel say this. He figured Daniel would probably know what he had done. He also figured that Daniel knew that he did it where it was deserved. Smirking Derrick thought, perhaps he should have made Daniel a General after all.

Still unable to move Mara never wanted to let her father go again. She had suffered long and hard thinking that he was gone, that he'd never know how proud she was of him. She had done all that she had trying to behave as brave, half as much of a hero that he was.

"I...I can't believe that you are here. That you are alive! My god I have dreamed of the day that I would find out it was a lie. That I would see you walk through the door and hold me. I never gave up the hope that you were somehow alive." Mara said her sobs finally quieting.

Daniel still in a state of shock could only kiss her head. He'd missed his precious daughter more than anything than he'd ever had. "I also thought to never see you again; I took that job to make it home sooner to you. You were always the world to me. I would have done anything for you my precious girl."

Whispering into his chest still Mara said, "Please father, and please never leave again."

"Oh baby girl," Daniel started. "I have no intention of doing that at all!"

Suddenly Mara looked at the table where Greeson was sitting. "Father! Please I want you to meet someone who is just as dear to me!" Pulling her father to the table Greeson arose and snapped off a salute.

"Sit son, no need for that right now Warrant!" Daniel said quietly.

Greeson sat as did Mara and Daniel. "Father, this is David Greeson." Here Mara dropped her voice and eyes. "My fiancé."

Both Greeson and Daniel's heads snapped around to stare at Mara. "I am?" Greeson said a moment later in shock.

A wide smile broke out on Daniel's face as he nodded. Just like her to go after what she wanted as aggressively as she was.

Daniel looked at Greeson and nodded no, then smiled. "Don't argue son, I know my little girl. You wouldn't get very far I know."

Greeson's face still held shock, and then a slow smile crossed his face. "Ok, so when did WE decide this?"