Deri stepped out onto a narrow outcropping of metal outside of his window and glanced back into his quarters. "Come on Maia."

She reached for his hand and he helped her out the window. "It's beautiful." She looked out across the spires of the city and out at the vast ocean. She sat slowly, leaning against his chest, and he wrapped his arms around her.

"I used to be afraid of heights." She said, distantly. "It seems such a small fear now."

"And I used to be scared of Wraith." He smiled.

Suddenly she found herself near tears, "You're right. I've told myself all these years that Liu is not Wraith, like if I wished it, it would be true." She was silent for a moment, calming herself. "But it's a lie. Liu is Wraith, but she is also my daughter."

"Maia, I didn't mean—"

She ignored him. "I know why I reacted to your medication." She leaned her head against his shoulder. "The flowers are well known for their purity, and according to you, the serum was an extremely concentrated form. It seems that once a person carries something impure, their body will not tolerate it."

"So the flowers don't help?"

"Not much. But Liu believes they help, and it gives her hope." Maia stifled a yawn with one hand. "She is a wonderful child. She can't help what she is, and who her father is."

"You don't have to worry about him." He said distantly. He looked down to find her eyes closed. "You're exhausted."

"Mmmhmm…"

"Come on, time for bed." He said, gently picking her up. He brought her gently through the window and laid her on his bed.

"Liu—" she whispered.

"Sleep for awhile Maia, I'll work on getting her back."

Her eyes were closed thought she was asleep, but as he moved towards the door, she turned her face towards him. "Damn you." She whispered.

"What?"

"Before I met you, I wasn't so afraid of dying." Her eyes closed and she drifted off to sleep.

Suddenly, he couldn't bring himself to leave. He sat beside her and watched her sleeping. He leaned forward and kissed her on the forehead. "Maia, you don't have to worry any more." Very reluctantly, he left her side and headed towards the lab.

When he arrived, he found that the guard was missing. He pressed his palm to the entry panel, and the door slid open for him. Inside was a controlled panic. Scientists in Atlantian lab uniforms ran back and forth between control panels. Some were packing sensitive equipment into boxes. A small cluster of scientists stood at the other end of the room by a shielded enclosure. They were looking over some kind of medical data and murmuring worriedly to each other. It seemed that Morai was the only one standing still, he stood in front of the shielded enclosure with his arms crossed.

Deri charged through the room and stopped at his friend's side. Liu was lying on a small bed, her face turned towards the wall. He caught the worried expression on his friends face.

"What's wrong with her?" he demanded.

He shook his head. "I don't know, she had some kind of seizure a few minutes ago, but she seems to be resting now."

"Seems to be? Why aren't you in there treating her? Why is everyone just running around?"

"Everyone's afraid of her." He said softly.

"I'm not." He said, "Let me in there."

"Deri, I can't let you do it. If the Council—"

"Screw the Council." He moved to the control panel, shoving a nurse out of his way. He reached for the pad.

"Deri—"

He turned to Morai, green eyes burning. "Mor, she's a little girl."

He turned away. "Fine." He turned his head and shouted. "Everyone out, we need some privacy here!"

Everyone hesitated and looked at him, and then dropped what they were doing and left. Morai was the last to go.

Deri dropped the force field and knelt at the little girl's side. "Liu."

She turned to him, her pale blue eyes dull and distant. She managed the weakest of smiles.

"You're starving, aren't you?"

"Yes, it won't be long now." Her voice was blank, totally emotionless.

"No Liu, I won't let it happen. I'll get your mother, or—"

Suddenly she turned away, "No, I don't want it anyone."

"Liu, what are you talking about?"

"I can't—" Liu said, her little voice trembling, "I can't let my mother suffer any more. Not for me. I—I would rather die."

"No Liu," He touched her chin and brought her eyes to meet his. "Did you every think what you're death would do to your mother?"

"She'll get over it. At least she'll live." She jerked her head away from his fingers and turned away again. "It's better this way. She can stay here with you. You take care of her."

He sighed. "There's just one problem with that. I promised her that I would protect you." He picked up her wraith hand, and thought about how this innocent, frail little girl could be part of something so terrible. Suddenly she jerked up in bed, as if waking from a nightmare.

"What are you doing?" she demanded. She tried to pull her hand away but he held it tight.

"I'm sorry Liu, I made a promise." He pressed her hand against his chest.