Lance and Ilana ran towards a group of Galalunian soldiers, Octus leisurely walked behind them. "Soldier, status report." Lance ordered.
"Sir, we have neutralized the threats, enemy forces have been eliminated. We have four captures." A soldier reported with a salute.
"Good, show me the hostages." Lance said.
"Yes sir, please follow me." He escorted the couple to a makeshift command post that had been set up, a few armored tanks and transports were positioned in a half circle, soldiers were gathered inside. "Sergeant, bring the prisoners."
"Yes sir!" a man said, he signaled for a few others to follow him and they went to open the back door of a van. Four cuffed men with bags covering their heads were brought out. "On your knees!" He said, the men kneeled before Lance and Ilana.
"Unmask them." Ilana ordered. The man furthest to the left was unveiled. Their hearts pounded, each wanted to see their fathers. The first bag was lifted, Chester stood with an awkward grin.
"How do you do?" He asked with a smirk.
"Put the bag back on." Lance ordered sternly, a soldier put the sack over his head.
"Get your grubby hands off me!" Chester struggled. Lance and Ilana waited until Chester stopped complaining, then they revealed the next.
"Father!" Ilana said halfheartedly, hoping he'd only been under mind control earlier. Not quite knowing if he was back to normal
"My darling…" he said weakly, Ilana went to hug him. "I am sorry…" The King said slowly. Lance signaled for the next, the bag pulled off and revealed a long pointy nose and bleach blonde hair.
"Baron…" Lance gritted through his teeth.
"Lance…" Baron said, more softly. It was more of a guilty tone.
"I should have you executed on the spot!" Lance said.
"You have every right to, but know that I am sorry…" He said bowing his head.
"Damn straight you worthless… wait, what?" Lance asked puzzled.
"I know… I caused you a lot of trouble, and I'm sorry… the Eyes promised they'd help me get the social ranking I've always dreamed of. When you won the war games back in the academy, I was a laughing matter… my father was so disappointed with my failure, and especially our little… escapade, the fight in the Manus armors… I never got much respect after that. So I turned to the Eyes, and after I started serving them, I literally could not stop… they controlled me…" Baron said disgusted with himself. Lance stared at him for a moment. After a moment's thought, he extended his hand and helped Baron stand.
"Un cuff him, make sure you check his mental status… I want him ready as a guest for dinner by tonight." Lance said deeply. Baron smiled as the guards took him away. "Get the last one…"
A guard pulled off the bag, Lance stood… staring at the man before him. Both were silent, Ilana wrapped her arms around Lance to comfort him. "Why?" The Captain asked.
"Son…" Edward said broken.
"Answer me." Lance said forcefully.
"I had no choice…" Lance's father said softly. "The eyes consumed me, they told me they could bring your mother back…" Lance pondered on the words for a moment, he hardly remembered his mother but he did remember his father working so late to avoid the pain after losing her.
"No, why did you leave…" Lance asked, trying to remain strong. "why did you leave your son, alone… with no body…"
"I didn't think I'd be gone for long… the plan was that I would walk through the rift gate, travel through a fold in space and them walk back through… this didn't go as planned."
"Well obviously…" Lance said, trying to contain his temper.
"Son… I am sorry, and I realize what I've done has affected your life more than my own. But… it did mold you into a very strong man, who I'm very proud of… and I hope you'll forgive me." Lance stared at his father, all of those years… training, fighting… he grew up in military school as an orphan… he was sent to wars at the age of thirteen, he waited every night at 2:00 for his father to return. After a while it wasn't hope of return, but straight up grief. Now the man he'd accepted as dead was before him… Lance didn't know how to react.
"Get up." Lance said, Edward stood up. "Your decision to leave me behind would be unacceptable… I will only tolerate what you did for one reason… and that is that your actions brought me together with the woman of my dreams" he said smiling at Ilana. "I do not accept what you did… but I can forgive you. I'll be expecting you at diner."
Edward smiled. "Thank you… son." Lance went to shake his hand, the older man extended both arms and embraced his son. Lance stood motionless as his father held onto him. Carefully, he wrapped his arms around Edwards back. His eyes burned and his heart ached. He felt a smile coming on, and tears trickling down his face. "I missed you son…"
"I missed you too, dad."
Almost done here, thanks for reading... tell me what you think. thank you.