Author's Note: The first section of this chapter takes place while Ro is finding Brown in the clearing. Also Gale was the name of Ro's father. Thanks!

10

"Pat, have you seen Laren?" Talia asked, a frown pulling at her forehead.

"Not since this morning, should I have?"

"I haven't seen her since they took out the body of Deanic and I'm worried about her. I've been told someone murdered Deanic and she went looking for that person."

This time it was Pat's turn to frown, "She said she would be fine but she probably needs help. Come on, let's go find her."

After asking several people, they were directed to the village square were Ro was last seen.

There the trail disappeared.

They had both sat down on a bench to rest when Pat noticed footprints on the little path to the pond where Talia had gone yesterday.

"Talia?"

The woman started from a doze and looked at Pat, "Yes?"

"I think Laren's at that clearing you went too yesterday." Pat said as she ran onto the path.

With her youthful energy, Pat quickly got ahead and didn't notice Talia was lagging behind.

She bust into the clearing, drawing her disruptor as she walked, only to find it empty.

Talia finally caught up with her and together they stood silently, trying to figure out what was going on.

That was when they heard the voices.

Voice actually.

Someone was talking and Talia motioned for silence as Pat opened her mouth and pointed in the direction the sound was coming from.

Pat nodded and they both carefully edged into the clearing.

Ro was lying on her back as Brown, smiling triumphantly, was preparing to shoot her.

All they could do, it seemed, was watch Ro die.

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Carefully keeping her gaze neutral, Ro opened her mouth, "You can shot me, but what are you going to tell people when they find my body?"

"Since you'll be shot with your own weapon, it'll be quite obvious. You killed our leader and then you couldn't take the guilt so you killed yourself."

Ro held her breath as Brown squeezed down on the trigger, hundreds of thoughts flashing in her mind.

Just as the bolt of energy left the disruptor, someone intercepted the bolt, saving Ro while another disruptor began to fire.

"No!" Ro screamed, pulling the body of her mother into her arm.

"No, I just found you mom, you can't leave. Please don't leave." Ro pleaded.

Talia's eyes fluttered open as she looked at her daughter, "I'm not leaving. I'll always be near you."

"You can't leave, you're stronger then this. We'll go back to the village and Finch will have you back together in no time." Ro pleaded with her mother like a child, so wrapped up that she didn't hear Brown scream or see him collapse to the ground, a disruptor bolt shooting through his chest.

Talia smiled slightly, "Laren, you're so much like Gale. Don't worry about me. The Prophets took care of him and they're taking care of me."

Ro ignored the tears falling down her face, "This wasn't supposed to happen. There are so many things I wanted to tell you, things I wanted to say and now I'll never get that chance."

"I know what you wanted to say. Words aren't necessary."

Ro shook her head, "I'm sorry, sorry I ran away, sorry for all the things I've ever said that hurt you and I am so sorry that you have to die like this."

Stiffly, Talia touched Ro's face, "You may be sorry, but I'm not."

"You shouldn't have moved in front of that bolt mom."

"But I did. I did it because I love you and because you're my daughter. I would do it again."

"I love you too mom, I love you so much." Ro whispered as Talia's eyes glazed over.

"Walk with the prophets, Ro Laren." Talia whispered as she died.

As Talia stopped breathing, Ro buried her face on her mother's shoulder and cried.

She cried for everything, her father, and herself, but most of all she cried for Talia, the mother she would never know.