S1, 27 Home (FB) (May 3, 2015)

Corresponding text underneath each picture.

**22nd April 2095: Present Day**

It was pitch black outside. We were flying through an area of space without a single star in the nearby vicinity. The only lights were from the Viper’s dash, allowing us to see each other in the dim light and very faintly illuminating the ships’ nose through the glass canopy.

It had been several days since I had teamed up with Eris, the daughter of the old Archmage and brother to the new one.

The information the Collective councillor had given us brought up a whole load of new questions about the war. Unfortunately, I was not in a position to answer any of them.

After the new Archmage, who, if what Eris told me is true, is going to be more of a pain than the old one, had given his announcement to the whole galaxy, Eris had thanked me for my assistance but had to dash off to deal with whatever was going on. I returned to my hideout and had informed Mr. Grey of everything that Councillor Vadier had confessed to us.

Mr. Grey had seemed most interested and promised that The Brain would be most pleased with my work. He also promised to be in touch very soon with information about Aril’s relatives.

But it had taken him until yesterday to make that call. It had been late in the afternoon when a little light on my datapad had started flashing. I’d checked it and found a message from Mr. Grey containing the names and addresses of Aril’s closest living relatives.

They turned out to be his great aunt and uncle and they lived on Soateria.

When I told Aril that tomorrow, we would take him to his family, he literally jumped for joy, bless him. He was so excited, he skipped around the place with a huge grin on his face and watching him do it, I couldn’t help but smile myself. I had glanced over at Tracks who practically rolled his eyes and shook his head at my soppiness. But I didn’t care. To see a child genuinely this happy was a rare sight these days. And after all of the recent tragedies that I had experienced, a little happiness was a very welcome change.

Once he’d calmed down, Aril said he’d never met these people before but he was looking forward to it.

And so early this morning we had set off through the deserted and eerily quiet streets, back to the Viper and we were now on our way to Soateria. Although the mountainous planet wasn’t actually that far from Qoter, because of the Collective’s blockade, we were having to fly the long way around, behind Etrion and then out towards our goal.

We had been flying for several hours now and to start with Aril had been bouncing with excitement, however as time had gone on, his excitement seemed to abate and for the past hour he’d been sat in complete silence.

I watched him in the rear view mirror for a few moments. He was just sat there, staring at the wall.

Tank: “Tracks, why don’t you power down for a bit? We’re all good here. I’ll wake you when we get there or if anything happens in the meantime.”

Tracks whirred a questioning reply.

Tank: “No, it’s fine. The ship’s on auto pilot at the moment anyway. You shut down, I’m going to have a chat with Aril.”

Tracks whirred and clicked for a moment in reply and then he got comfortable and his red eyes faded out.

I waited for a few moments before saying anything.

Tank: “Hey back there.” I said, looking in the mirror with a smile. Aril looked back at me.

Tank: “How you doing? Okay?”

He nodded.

Tank: “Are you nervous?” I asked after a pause.

Aril looked at his lap and started playing with his fingers. Then he nodded.

Tank: “That’s okay. It’s perfectly okay to be nervous.” I assured him and when he looked up at me, I smiled back. “I would be nervous too if I was going to stay with some people I’ve never met before.”

Aril: “You would?”

Tank: “Yeah! Everybody would!” I assured him, although as I said it, the thought popped into my mind that Mr. Grey would probably be the exception to that statement.

Aril: “But I don’t even know their names…” His said, his momentary happiness gone again.

Tank: “Hang on, I can tell you.” I pulled my datapad out of my satchel and brought up Mr. Grey’s message.

Tank: “Um, your great Uncle is called Myram and your great Aunt is Susannah.” I told him after finding the relevant information. “Myram and Susannah Fresch.”

I put the pad away again and found that Aril didn’t seem any more cheerful, but I didn’t really know what else to say.

After a couple of minutes of silence, Aril spoke up in a quiet voice.

Aril: “My parents are dead, aren’t they.”

It wasn’t a question, he stated it as a fact. But even so, it was heart wrenching to hear him admit that he knew it.

I couldn’t respond. I didn’t want to simply say ‘Yes’, but I had no idea what else to say. So instead I stayed quiet, which I think he took as confirmation.

Tank: “You know Aril, believe it or not, I know a little something about losing those you care about.”

Aril: “You do?”

Tank: “Oh yeah. More than I wish I did. I know what it’s like to lose your family…”

.

**22nd April 2085**

 .

**Earth...**

**New York...**

Frank: “...Yey! Thank you!”

Lana Foster laughed softly from where she sat of the sofa, as her young son ripped the wrapping off of his latest Birthday present.

Lana: “No worries sweety. Do you like it?”

Frank: “Yeah!” He replied excitedly, examining the packaging in more detail.

Lana: “Why don’t you unwrap the rest before you get anything out of the boxes, yes?”

Frank: “Okay.”

The doorbell rang and from where he stood, leaning against the wall with a glass of wine in his hand, Jeremy Foster said,

Jeremy: “I’ll get it.” and exited the room.

Young Frank began tearing into his next paper-wrapped parcel and a few moments later revealed his next gift.

Frank: “Cool!” he exclaimed with a grin on his face.

At that moment, Frank’s father returned, followed by another man dressed in a smart suit.

Jeremy: “Frank, look who’s here.”

Frank looked up and his smile grew even wider.

Frank: “Uncle Barnaby!” he cried, leaping up and rushing over to give the newcomer a huge hug.

Barnaby: “We-hey!” he cried, also grinning as he hugged the child. “You do know I’m not actually your uncle, right?” he checked, semi-seriously.

Frank: “I know.” He assured, still grinning as he let go of the older man.

Lana: “He’s just so fond of you.” she explained from her seat on the sofa.

Barnaby: “Well, I can’t say I blame him!” he joked. “Anyway, happy Birthday kiddo!”

Barnaby handed Frank his present and the child whooped before returning to the floor by his mother to unwrap it.

Barnaby Walsh was business associate of Jeremy’s and a good friend of the Foster family, as such he was a frequent visitor to their penthouse apartment.

Barnaby: “Oh, Jeremy, I must speak with you about the Swiss deal when we get a moment.”

Jeremy: “We can talk now if you’d like? Yes, let’s go to my office.” The pair left the room and as they did so, they doorbell rang again.

Jeremy: “I’ve got it!” he called back.

The sounds of greetings came from the hallway as Frank tore into his next box excitedly.

Man: “Hello Lana. Hello Frank! Happy birthday!” a newcomer greeted as he entered the room, accompanied by a young girl, roughly Frank’s own age.

Lana: “Alberto! How are you? Hello Riley!” she greeted, getting up and moving around the sofa to hug both of them.

Frank also got up as Riley approached him.

Riley: “Happy Birthday Frank!” she smiled and handed him an oddly-shaped present.

Frank: “Thank you.” he said, suddenly shy. But still, he took the gift and sat back down.

Riley: “Go on, open it.” She encouraged as she sat by him. On the other side of the sofa, Riley’s father and Frank’s mother continued their conversation.

Frank began to unwrap the latest gift.

Riley: “I chose it myself.”

Frank finished removing the paper and was left holding a small model spaceship.

Riley: “Because I know how much you love space.”

Frank just stared at the ship, admiring it from every angle. He couldn’t speak – he didn’t know what to say. He loved it; almost as much as he loved space.

Frank: “It’s…” he began.

Lana: “Oh wow!” his mother smiled as she came to sat back on the sofa. “That’s wonderful!”

Riley: “I chose it myself.” She announced again.

Lana: “It’s lovely, isn’t it Frank?”

Frank nodded.

Frank: “Thank you Riley.”

Riley: “Mrs. Foster, where’s my father gone?”

Lana: “He’s gone to speak with Jeremy. He’ll be back shortly.” She assured with a smile. “I wonder who will be next to arrive.”

But the kids didn’t care, instead Riley grabbed another un-opened gift from the pile and passed it to the birthday boy.

Riley: “Open this one next, Frank!”

.

**22nd April 2095: Present Day**

.

Aril: “… Why? What happened to your family?”

I took a few moments and then sighed before replying.

Tank: “Both my parents were killed.”

Aril was quiet for a second or two.

Aril: “Just like mine.”

I smiled, realising that I actually had a fair amount in common with the boy. Except that we were opposite sides of a coin. The same coin.

We had both come from the same point, the same turning point in our lives. However, we both had taken separate paths away from it. I went to jail where I felt nothing but loneliness and despair. But Aril… I had saved him from that path of desolation and isolation. He was going to grow up in the care of his family, not in the company of strangers and convicts. I was determined that this young boy was going to have the best future he could.

And not the future that I was having to live. A convicted killer, albeit wrongly, on the run from the law and hiring my skills out just for information. Nowhere to live, no money, no friends.

Tank: “Yes.” I confirmed with a sad smile.

We were quiet for a little while until Aril asked a new question.

Aril: “Why have I never met my great Aunt and Uncle before?”

Tank: “Have you ever been off of Etrion?”

He shook his head.

Tank: “Well there you go then.” I half laughed.

Aril: “But why did they never come to visit?”

Tank: “I don’t know everything, Aril. Maybe they don’t have a ship. I hear that some of the locations on Soateria are quite remote. They might not have access to any form of space travel. Did any of your other relatives ever visit you?”

Aril: “No.”

Tank: “How about friends? Did you leave any friends behind?”

Aril: “I had a friend called Jet, but I didn’t see him again after the pirates arrived.”

That didn’t sound hopeful.

Tank: “Did you just have one friend?”

I saw him nodding in the mirror.

Tank: “Sometimes losing a friend is just as hard as losing family. When somebody has been a part of your life for a long time and you know them like they are your brother, or sister, then when they leave, it can be unbearable…”

.

**25th February 2094**

**Etrion...**

Jarred: “Again!”

I repeated the move, twisting the cane in my hands and blocking Jarred’s attack.

Jarred: “Again!” he demanded.

We had been training like this for hours now and I was dripping with sweat. Sparring under the never-ending sun probably wasn’t the best of ideas but we had nowhere else to do it.

I repeated the move yet again and then again and again. Finally after what felt like forever, Jarred called for a rest.

I instantly dropped my cane and slouched down against the rocks outside of our cave. As I sat there panting, Jarred came and sat beside me, only slightly out of breath.

Jarred: “Well, you’re improving.” He informed me with a lopsided grin as he passed me a water bottle.

Laughing quietly, I undid the lid and downed half of the bottle.

Tank: “I don’t know how you can *not* be out of breath!”

Jarred smirked and drank from his own bottle.

Jarred: “Easy. I’m used to it.”

We rested for about ten minutes before Jarred announced it was time to continue.

Jarred: “Now, this time, I want you to attack me.”

Tank: “That’s it?” I asked, picking up my cane.

Jarred: “That’s it.”

There had to be more to it than that but nevertheless I readied myself in the way Jarred had already taught and then attacked. I swung my cane, but within moments I found it had be knocked from my grasp and the end of Jarred’s cane was pressed to my throat.

Jarred: “Again.” He commanded, lowering the wooden pole.

I scooped my own one up again and after a moment launched another attack. Again, Jarred parried it easily and I ended up being struck in the chest.

Jarred: “Again.”

Getting annoyed with myself, I again picked up my cane and attacked Jarred. This time it took a parry before he managed to disarm me.

Jarred: “Again!”

I growled in frustration and tried again. Once more Jarred easily knocked my attack aside.

Jarred: “Come on, focus!”

Tank: “I’m trying!” I shouted angrily. “I’m just no good at this!”

Jarred: “Fine! Then defend!”

He lunged at me and I barely managed to block the attack before he had swung the cane in an arc towards my face. I managed to raise my own and block that blow too. He went for my legs and I blocked it before parrying the next blow aside and getting a hit on his side.

Jarred: “Good! Good!” he grinned. “See, you *can* do it!”

I smirked despite myself.

Jarred: “You’ll get there, pal. Now, again!”

We continued sparring like that for the next few hours. By the time we stopped, I had begun to notice a slight improvement in my skills. Nothing major but just enough of a change for me to be able to notice it.

We would have carried on for longer, but mid-session I suddenly noticed that we were being watched.

Tank: “I think one of your ‘friends’ is here.” I nodded towards the edge of the hill where a shady looking alien was spying on us.

Jarred turned around to look then wiped his brow and set down his cane.

Jarred: “That’s enough for today.” He announced and patted me on the shoulder before heading off to speak with the shady alien.

Panting, I picked up his cane and headed inside into the shade. I deposited the canes in the corner and then grabbed another bottle of water and, slowly this time, drunk most of it before setting it on the table. I went and sat on my bed, getting as far back into the cave and the shade as I possibly could to cool down.

A minute or so later, Jarred entered the cave, a gloomy expression on his face.

Tank: “What’s up?”

Jarred: “We’ve got a job to do.” He told me while picking up his helmet.

Tank: “What, now?”

Jarred: “Tonight.”

Tank: “Doing what? And why am I suddenly involved?” I asked, annoyed that I’d been roped into one of his criminal schemes.

Jarred: “You remember that GI base? Well a friend of Garh’tik’s has found a back entrance that apparently isn’t very well guarded. So we’re going to go and raid it.”

Tank: “So why do you need me?”

Jarred: “Because the more men we have, the more stuff we can carry out of there. Besides, I’ve already told Garh’tik that you’ll be there, so if you’re not, he’s not going to be happy. With either of us.” He dropped his helmet onto his bed and then put his jetpack with it.

Jarred: “We’ve gotta do this, pal. It’ll be fine.” He assured me with a fake smile and I shook my head slightly in silent disbelief.

…

**22nd April 2095: Present Day**

Aril: “Will I ever see him again?”

I had to shake my head to clear away the memories.

Tank: “Who?”

Aril: “Jet, my friend.”

Tank: “Who knows, kiddo? Who knows? There’s always the possibility. Never give up hope.” I told him, although from what he’d told me, I highly doubted that there was be a happy ending to that story.

We were close to Soateria now and as the space around us filled with stars once again, the jungle planet appeared in the very distance.

Tank: “Hey, Aril. Look.” I heard shuffling behind me as Aril came and stood behind my chair. “There’s Soateria.” I pointed out the dot to him. “There’s your new home.”

Aril: “It looks so small.” He commented.

Tank: “I think it’s actually bigger than Etrion. We’re just a long way away still.”

Aril returned to his seat and we sat in silence for quite a while. By the time I spoke again, the planet was looming large in from of us.

Tank: “Not long now, buddy.”

I glanced in the mirror and could clearly see how nervous Aril was.

Tank: “You never know, your great Aunt and Uncle might have bought you presents!” I guessed, just trying to cheer him up.

Aril: “Really?” he asked hopefully.

Tank: “Maybe.” I replied, now feeling guilty for getting his hopes up. “But don’t hold me to that.” I watched in the mirror as his face fell again.

Tank: “But there’s always the chance. They might throw you a welcoming party! It’ll be like you’re getting a second birthday party!”

Aril: “That would be cool.” He admitted.

Tank: “Yeah! Say, when is your birthday anyway?” I asked just out of curiosity.

Aril: “August 30th.”

Tank: “Nice. Summer birthdays are always best.” I smiled at him in the mirror then turned my attention back to the flying the ship as I took it off of auto pilot.

A few minutes later, I confessed something to the boy.

Tank: “You wanna know something?”

Aril: “What?”

Tank: “It’s actually my birthday today.”

Aril: “Really?”

Tank: “Yeah. It’s my 20th.” I smiled at him again, but this time there was a sadness behind it that I just couldn’t help.

It was my 20th birthday and I had spent it flying halfway across the galaxy to take a random kid to meet relatives he never knew existed. Most guys my age would spend it out partying or in a club or at least at a restaurant or something like that, but I was stuck doing this.

But then I thought to myself; ‘No, wait. There’s no question about it; I saved this boy’s life. I’m taking him to live with the only family he has left, so that he can have a bright future ahead of him. Screw going to a bar and getting drunk, this is a much better way to spend the day. In fact, who needs presents when you’re helping a child? Spending the day with Aril and just talking to him had been more rewarding than any work I’d done for Mr. Grey so far. More rewarding than anything I’d *ever* done as far as I could think.

Aril: “Then, Happy Birthday.” Came the little voice from behind me and once again I smiled, only now, it was one of acceptance and happiness.

Tank: “Thank you Aril.”

For the last half an hour of our journey, we sat in silence. I guided us over the jungle and mountains below to the coordinates that Mr. Grey had given and then set us gently down in a nearby field. It was the gloom of evening, but on our arrival, we could see that we were on the outskirts of a small, rural village set on a plateau amid one of the smaller mountain ranges. There was a relatively small mountain to the East, to the South and West fields made their way down the mountain and to the North, after several more fields, the jungle stretched as far as the eye could see.

I had told Tracks that I’d wake him up when we got here, but I decided to leave him powered down for now so that I could escort Aril by myself. Besides, Tracks was plugged into the Viper’s systems. If anybody tried to steal it or anything while I was away, his security systems should kick in and wake him up anyway. Although out here in this rural area, I doubted anybody would try anything like that.

Tank: “Well, here we are, buddy. Your new home.” I released the canopy and it opened up. The air was brisk but nice and clean and fresh. It made a nice change from both the polluted and battle-filled city air and the sand-filled air of planets like Etrion and Iapra that I’d been spending lots of time on recently.

Tank: “You coming?” I asked with a soft smile and held out my hand to him. Very slowly, he took it and I helped him out of the ship.

I closed the cockpit and we headed to the nearest road so that we could look for the right address. I didn’t take long until we found ourselves standing outside of a small property with white-washed walls and some sort of climbing plant covering most of the front of the building.

Tank: “Well, here we are. Are you ready?” Aril didn’t respond.

Tank: “Hey.” I got down onto my knees so that we were eye to eye. “Remember when I found you in the rubble?” He nodded slowly. “Do you remember what I told you?”

After a pause he replied,

Aril: “You told me to be brave.”

Tank: “Exactly. And you were. You are one of the bravest men I’ve ever met. Not many people would have the courage to fly with a stranger halfway across the galaxy, or to move a long way away to stay with people that they’ve never met before. That takes courage. And strength. And bravery.” I said, placing my hands on his upper arms.

Tank: “You have been incredibly brave and I’m very pleased to be able to say that I met you.” everything I was saying, I was saying to give him confidence and to boost him up, but as I said it, I also realised that every single word of it was true.

Tank: “You are a very brave guy and now your reward is that you don’t have to be any more. You get to relax and be taken good care of. Okay?”

He nodded and I stood up after a moment. I reached out for the door buzzer but let my hand hover over it.

Tank: “You ready?” I checked and with a deep breath, Aril nodded. I pushed the button and we heard the dull buzz coming from inside.

A few seconds later the door was opened by a couple who both looked to be in their 50’s or 60’s.

Tank: “Myram and Susannah?” I checked.

Susannah: “Yes! Oh yes!” she cooed in reply, seeing Aril for the first time.

Myram: “Indeed. You must be the agent that the fellow on the phone mentioned.”

Tank: “I am.” I replied, guessing that he meant Mr. Grey.

Myram: “Hello there! You must be Aril!” he greeted and I ever so gently put a hand on Aril’s back and guided him forwards and into their embraces.

We stood in that doorway for a few minutes, with the couple cooing and fussing over the young boy. They introduced themselves to him and after a couple of minutes had passed he began to talk as well. I stood back and watched as the family came together. At the end of a very long and tiring couple of weeks, on my 20th birthday, to see such a happy sight was all I needed. I couldn’t help but smile as the scene played out before my eyes. Gradually Aril became more talkative as they asked more questions and began to chat. It was at that point that Myram stood up straight and shook my hand vigorously.

Myram: “Thank you.” he said in earnest.

I simply nodded, afraid that if I tried to speak I would cry. I then motioned with my head that it was time for me to leave and Myram seemed to understand that I wished to leave without a fuss and nodded. A smiled my thanks and then turned to leave.

However, I had only walked as far as the next property along, when I heard running footsteps behind me and suddenly a small pair of arms flung themselves around my waist. I laughed and at the same time, tears brimmed over from my eyes. I turned around in Aril’s grasp, bent down and hugged him back.

After a few moments of quietly just holding each other, Aril said,

Aril: “Thank you.”

I let go and he did likewise.

Tank: “You take care now, okay?” I said, standing up.

Tank: “And be good.” He nodded and I glanced back to the doorway to his new home, his new life, and saw Myram and Susannah standing in the light spilling out from inside, watching us.

Tank: “Go on then.” I motioned with my head that he should return to his great Aunt and Uncle and he turned and ran back to them.

I waited until he had got there and had turned back to face me, before I myself turned around and headed back towards the Viper, back towards the only thing I could call home and the only person I could call family.

I got back to the Viper and climbed inside. I kept the cockpit open and just sat for a moment, gazing into space and then I turned around a flicked Tracks’ activation switch. He whirred into life and I watched while he booted up. When he was fully functioning he whirred out a question.

Tank: “He’s gone.” I replied with a smile of mixed emotions. “He’s home now.”

Tracks and I sat in silence, simply enjoying the fresh air and the silence of the evening.

Peaceful.

I took a deep breath, inhaling as much of the clean air as I could before sighing it out. A moment passed and then I reach into my inside jacket pocket and pulled out the torn photograph of my parents which I had discovered back at my old home.

I sat there looking at it for the first time in quite a while now. I was still no closer to finding out the truth. I knew that getting Mr. Grey and The Brain to help find Aril’s family was the right decision to make, but it hadn’t gotten me any closer to any answers. It was so frustrating that The Brain knew what I wanted, but simply won’t tell me! Well, Mr. Grey claims that he knows, anyway. Whether he does or not is another question entirely. But I suppose, only time will tell.

I glanced over the other faces in the image and was suddenly struck as I realized I did in fact recognize one of them. The man I'd known as Uncle Barnaby! I had completely forgotten about him! I hadn't seen him since before my parent's death! And there he was, smiling up at me from the photograph, standing just behind my father. I made a mental note to try and find him soon and speak to him; See if he knew anything about what happened. My thumb gently slid over my parent's faces in an unconscious stroke and then I slide the image back into my jacket.

I sighed again and listened to the distant sound of birds and night animals, out in the forests. But then that was broken by a beeping coming from the Viper, indicating an incoming holo-com call.

I groaned, knowing who it was going to be. Only one person… well, two if you count Jakor who managed to hack into it, knew the code for my com.

I flicked it on and sure enough Mr. Grey appeared.

Mr. Grey: “Greetings, Tank.”

Tank: “Good evening.” I replied with as much politeness as I could manage.

Mr. Grey: “Many happy returns.”

Now that took me by surprise! How did he know it was my birthday?! But then I remembered that he seemed to know everything about everyone. The Brain must really be a smart guy.

Tank: “Thank you.”

Mr. Grey: “I trust you have dropped the boy off by now?”

Tank: “Yeah, not long ago.”

Mr. Grey nodded.

Mr. Grey: “Good. I expect you’d probably like to rest now, however, I have a new assignment for you.”

I groaned aloud.

Mr. Grey: “As usual, I will send the details to your datapad, but essentially; there is a GI general by the name of Gendar. I need him taking out.”

Tank: “A general? And you’re trusting me with this job? Don’t you have anyone a little more qualified for this sort of thing?”

Mr. Grey didn’t answer for a moment and when he did, it was short.

Mr. Grey: “No.”

I rolled my eyes.

Tank: “Okay, but why?”

Mr. Grey: “Because I believe that he is in fact going to try and join the Collective. I have information from inside and it seems that the Imperium have just released their first batch of new flagships. It seems that they are getting pretty desperate trying to tackle the Collective. Gendar seems to be taking one of these brand new cruisers and just giving it to them. And that <i>cannot</i> be allowed to happen!”

Tank: “Okay fine, I’ll do it.”

Mr. Grey: “Excellent.” He paused. “Oh and one more thing…”

Tank: “What’s that?”

Mr. Grey: “He’s a cyborg.”

I gulped as Mr. Grey ended the transmission.

**BONUS PICTURES**

A WIP photo.

The finished set.

The lighting setup.

And that's the end of Season 1!

As my series is going to be jumping around though time, I will include a date on each episode and add it to the timeline at the end of each episode so that you can follow it.

TIMELINE