GALAXY AT WAR - Book 4 - A Dark Time

CHAPTER SIXTEEN - March 2173 - Justice / Anthera

...Justice...

Tanya, now nearly eight months old, had crawled towards Neil after a lot of encouragement. She was making slow progress, distracted by other, more interesting, things like her favourite chewable toy.

"Come on, Tanya. Come on. Come to daddy," Neil was beckoning her with his arms as well. He was sat cross-legged on the floor. Rebecca was sitting in a similar position next to him, also trying to keep Tanya's attention.

Tanya turned her head towards her daddy and smiled then crawled the rest of the way towards him. She arrived at his legs and reached up to hold his knee.

"That's it, Tanya. Try to stand. Go on," said Neil.

Tanya gurgled and reached up with her other hand before overbalancing and tumbling sideways. Neil caught her and placed her in front of him again.

"Come on, Tanya. You can do it," said Neil.

"You can," said Rebecca.

Tanya reached up a second time and grabbed hold of Neil's knee. Then she managed to hold on with her other hand as well. She brought a foot underneath her, placing it on the floor. Neil had a hand either side of her, ready to steady her. Tanya managed to place her second foot on the floor, and she rose into a standing position.

Rebecca was clapping. "Clever girl."

Tanya beamed with her accomplishment and reached forwards which unbalanced her again and Neil lifted her up before she could fall. He held her in front of him. "Well done, Tanya. You stood. Yes, you did," he rubbed his nose against hers with affection, which she tried to bite, before turning her around and cradling her in his arms.

Neil turned his attention to Rebecca. "It won't be long now."

"Until we're home?"

"Yes. We must be closing in on our system."

"The ship will warn us when we enter the edge."

As if on cue a persistent bleep started emanating from the cockpit."

"Can you hold her?" asked Neil.

"Of course," Rebecca held out her arms and Tanya floated out of Neil's and into hers. "I'll come with you."

They both walked to the cockpit and Neil sat in the pilot's seat. He pressed a button to acknowledge the warning bleep which stopped it. "Looks like we'll be passing close by Anthera on the way in."

Rebecca had sat in the co-pilot's seat by then and looked out the window. "I can't see anything."

Neil pointed. "You see that bright star over there. The one that looks a little larger than the others."

"Yes."

"That's Anthera. We'll be past it in fifteen minutes. In another five hours, roughly, we'll be closing in on Sentry One."

"Oh!" Rebecca closed her eyes and screwed up her face.

"What's wrong?"

"Hang on, Neil."

"Do you need me to take Tanya?"

"No. I'm fine. I just sensed something."

Neil waited for Rebecca to do her thing.

Rebecca's mind reached out towards Anthera. She was sure that's where it was coming from. She focused on the pain she had suddenly felt. It was Colin. She entered his mind and started looking through his eyes.

"No. Stop!" Colin sobbed with fear.

"You've got to learn, Colin. You can't keep on defying us. She's not here to help you anymore," said a voice that Rebecca recognised. She couldn't quite place it though.