Among Generations

31.

                   A year later

"Liam,it's time to go."
Liam had just finished packing his extra suits.Some the colour of lime and the rest were all the colours of the other Crewmates.
Traveling from outpost to outpost,they had to be prepared to be any colour.
They had created a system to take the place of the first person they kill.An example would be if Liam were to have killed yellow first he would go about the ship as Yellow.
However,Liam was always most comfortable being the colour lime.So he targeted Lime first if he had the opportunity.
The Blue Impostor who was given an earth name Aaron,by Dag,had learned long ago to drive a runner.
Dag had really taught them all he could.Dag was sitting in the backseat.Liam was the last to get in.He climbed into the backseat and sat next to his father.
"Alright,let's go,Aaron."
Aaron smiled and started the runner.They had all had their helmets off and stared out the window.It seemed to be always snowing on Polus.They learned to enjoy the runner rides and sometimes would play games like Eye Spy.It passed the time and they always ended up laughing somehow.
However Liam was suddenly distracted from the outside by his father having a coughing fit.He coughed and coughed till blood came out of his mouth.When he finally stopped coughing,Liam handed Dag a small oxygen tank and breather.
Dag sucked in the air and sighed deeply.He quickly wiped at his mouth,removing any blood that might be on his face.Liam sighed and said with a worried tone,"Dad,are you okay? Can you make it to the next Outpost?"
Dag's breathing was hoarse and he kept taking deep breathes.A small cough again and he sighed,"Yeah,I think so."
Aaron sighed in the front seat.Upset with the current event taking place.
Liam leaned on his father's shoulder and said with soft a tone,"Dad,how come you didn't tell me you were sick? Why did you wait all this time?"
Dag sighed deeply and gently ran his fingers through Liam's hair,"I didn't want you to worry about me.I needed you focused on your tasks and becoming a better hunter.I didn't need you to worry about me."
Liam began to let tears fall from his eyes,"But,Dad.You're dieing! And I-I can't help but feel like there was something I could have done to stop this!"
Dag smiled lovingly at his son as he began to sob into his shoulder.
"Liam,please.It's okay. *Cough* Please don't think that.This is not your fault.It's mine.I'm the one who took my helmet off all the time and got sick.This is not on you."
Liam cried loudly,"But if you had told me I could've stopped you.I could've helped you.I could've kept you safe."
Dag smiled again,hugging his boy tightly,"Liam,I didn't want that responsibility on you.Besides like I said it was MY choice."
Liam cried out again,"Dad,I don't want you to die."
Aaron while driving couldn't help but shed a tear himself.Listening to them talk.