ComStar compound, Tharkad city,

Tharkad, Donegal Province,

Lyran Alliance

The drumming sound her fingers made on the table as she waited was all that was keeping Sinade sane: the message had arrived the day before, while her husband had been meeting with Precenter Martail Davion. It was a message she had never expected to receive. The door opposite her opened, revelling an armed ComStar acolyte, followed by a tall, grey haired woman in a conservative looking dress.

"Hello Sinade," The woman's smile was hollow, her voice cool and devoid of any kindness, "It's been what? 10 years?"

"Try 15." Sinade stood, "Although the last time we met you said you never wanted to see me again. What changed?"

"Let's of things change." The woman sat on the other chair, "You where not married last time."

"So that's what this is all about: Steven." Sinade shook her head, "You know what Leona: You never cease to amaze me."

"'Leona'?" The older woman raised an eyebrow, "What happened to 'Mother'?"

"I haven't called you that for a long time." Sinade's eyes narrowed, "Not since you abandoned me on New Exford."

"You still hold a grudge over that?" Leona rested her arms on the table; "We had nothing after we fled from Somerset. I built us a life on New Exford, started to gain a bit of social standing, trying to get back what we had lost. If you had never started that story about your step-brother...

"It was no story." Sinade struggled to keep her voice calm, "Sebastian tried to rape me, and you took his side over mine, your own daughter."

"You think it was easy for me?" Leona seemed indifferent to her daughter feelings, "Everyone looking at me, wondering why my daughter was so crazy?"

"I was not crazy." Sinade's voice was on the point of cracking, "I had to leave everything I had, everyone I knew because it was inconvenient for you."

"And look what you became: a mere Sergeant." Leona looked ashamed, "You could have been an officer."

"I AM an officer." Sinade tapped the epaulets on her shoulders, "A Major, excursive officer in an Elite Regiment."

"In ComStar?" Leona shrugged, "You're Lyran, your loyalties lay here, in the Alliance."

"My loyalties are my own." Sinade tried to calm herself, "I have friends, people whom car more about my safety then their seat at the next charity ball."

"Yes, well things change." Leona looked at her daughter, "I've arranged a place for you in a Line unit with the rank of Hauptmann. It took quite a bit of doing, but the years have been good to me, especially science I moved here to the Capital. It may not be as 'grand' as working for ComStar, but at least it will get you away from that murderer..."

"STEVEN IS NOT A MURDERER!" Sinade slammed her fists down on the table, the sound bringing the ComStar Acolyte back into the room, pistol drawn, "As much as I hate to say it, Sebastian is not dead: he's working for Word of Blake."

"But I thought..." Leona trailed off.

"Yes, we all did." Sinade smiled, finally having the upper hand, "But that bastard tricked us again. Believe me, I wish he was dead, and if he ever comes under my guns I'll gladly kill him myself."

"I can see that there is no helping you." Leona went to stand, "There is one other thing: your children..."

"The ones I had with the 'murderer' you mean?" Sinade pulled a couple of photos from her pocked and pushed them across the table, "Jane is 5, Paul was born just a few days ago. I hope they take after their father's side of the family. Please, keep the photos: it's the closet you'll ever get to them." She turned to the Acolyte, "She's leaving, now."

The guard nodded, leading Leona from the room.

TBC