Alright, everyone. This chapter will be very Daniel-Sasha centric, as they will be sharing in a very unique type of intimacy (no, not THAT kind). This will allow them to take their relationship to a completely different level – allowing them to know each other like no one else can. I hope you enjoy!
While the surprise from the Neuroi didn't end up causing significant casualties, the resulting attack did cause allied command to delay the final assault on Vienna for a few days while the damage was assessed and cleaned up. There was also another wrinkle added to the allied plans – they had received word that the hive above Vienna had transformed into a superhive similar to the one that the 501st had fought in Venezia. While this created the need for the allies to adjust some of their tactics and strategies, the operation was soon back on the track and the forces at the three bases were fully supplied and ready to go.
The night before the final assault, Daniel and Sasha were relaxing together in his room, talking about the future, when the conversation steered towards memories of their childhood. Sasha was looking forward to having the chance to see her family again, and before long, Daniel chimed in with some favorite stories from his childhood before he was in the military. At one point, Daniel concluded a particularly funny anecdote and the two of them began to laugh. "Your family sounds like they were really wonderful people," Sasha said as her laughter died down, "I really wish I could've had a chance to meet them."
Daniel then sat up and looked Sasha in the eyes and said, "Actually, I may be able to arrange that – in a manner of speaking." Sasha looked at Daniel in confusion as he continued, "If you would like, I can create a temporary bond between us that would allow you to see my memories through your own eyes." When Sasha asked how this was possible, Daniel explained about the unique ability he had developed on his own – the mind meld – as a way of connecting the minds of two people under special circumstances. "Isn't that like the ability that Vulcan character had in your Star Trek series?" Sasha asked. Daniel nodded and explained, "That was the inspiration for me to develop this ability, yes. However, I believe that I have made it a bit less intense than the version depicted on the show." When asked how, Daniel responded, "We won't be sharing emotions, only memories and images. However, it can be an intense experience if the two people involved are struggling with each other."
As Daniel saw Sasha thinking about what she wanted to do, he asked, "Remember when I examined Hikari to see if she had Jedi abilities?" After Sasha nodded, he explained, "That was a more rudimentary form of the mind meld, if you need an idea of what I would be doing." He then gave Sasha another chance to back out. "I won't do this if you don't feel comfortable. However, if you really want to know what my experiences were like, this is the best way to see that." Sasha thought about this for a minute, trying to figure out whether she was ready for an experience like this. However, she then nodded, and said, "You are very important and special to me – I want to know everything I can about you." Daniel nodded in acknowledgement and said, "Very well, then. Just sit up and relax." Sasha took a deep breath and tried to do as he said.
Daniel then put his right hand gently but firmly over her left cheek, they both closed their eyes, and he began to chant, "My mind to your mind…my thoughts to your thoughts…I am taking us back…back to the child I once was…and the family I once had." When they opened their eyes, they were no longer in Daniel's room on the base, but in the backyard of a two-story suburban home on a summer afternoon. "This is the home I grew up in," Daniel explained. There, in the backyard, playing catch with a baseball and a pair of gloves, was a younger version of Daniel and a middle-aged man, around forty years old. "That's your dad, isn't it?" asked Sasha. "Yes, it is," said Daniel as he smiled at the memory. As they continued to watch, they could hear them talking while they were playing – about what was going on in their lives, about sports, and just the typical father-son stuff. "You two were very close, weren't you?" Sasha asked – more like an observation, really. "Yes we were," Daniel replied, "I really miss him."
The scene then shifted indoors to the kitchen of that house, where Daniel was helping his mom cook dinner. When he was finished with his part, Daniel's mom walked up to him and said, "Thank you, Daniel," before kissing him on the cheek. "You're a good son, you know that." The younger Daniel slightly blushed in embarrassment before thanking her. Sasha giggled at seeing this and commented, "Awwww, that's so cute!" As the scene continued, they saw everyone gathering around the dining table and sitting down to eat while everyone engaged in conversation with each other. "This was a regular part of the day," Daniel explained, "Mom and dad would make sure we all ate dinner together as a family every day we could."
The scene then shifted again – this time to the living room, where everyone was gathered around the TV as they watched the national nightly news broadcasts. "Mom and dad wanted to make sure we were all very well-informed about the goings on in the world," Daniel said. Sasha nodded as Daniel continued, "Education was always a very important thing in my family – my parents always said that education was the best way to get to where we wanted in life. They also said they would support my sister and I in whatever we chose to do, as long as we were happy doing it." Sasha then asked, "So what was your sister like?"
Daniel then changed the scene to where they were in a bedroom with very feminine decorations. There were also various art reproductions on the wall as well as a bunch of theatrical posters. "This is my sister's room," Daniel explained, as Sasha looked around. "She was very much into art and theater." Sasha smiled at Daniel and replied, "I can tell." As she continued to look around at the various items, she said, "She seems like a really nice and interesting person." Daniel immediately responded, "She was. We bickered a bit, of course, as all siblings do, but she was really great." Daniel then changed the room setting, and they were in a very different bedroom, this one decorated by sports posters, various certificates, a few pieces of Asian art, and some sci-fi movie posters and games alongside a desktop computer. "I assume this is your room, then?" Sasha asked, as Daniel nodded. As she looked around, she commented to him, "You had a really…unique mix of interests." Daniel smiled and said teasingly, "I'm a very complex individual – you should know that by now." Sasha smiled back and replied, "I know. That's one of the reasons why I love you."
Daniel continued to show Sasha the memories he held most dear – birthdays, holidays, family vacations. Family was the most important as he showed his times with other family members as well – his grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins – all of them enjoying each other's company in various places – at the beach, in the snow, hiking through nature, and exploring various cities. Sasha could feel the love and could tell just how close and tight-knit Daniel's family was.
Daniel then turned to Sasha and said, "I know that I've told you about this next part of my life, but I want you to see it for yourself." Sasha nodded as Daniel shifted the scene yet again to the time when he first discovered his Jedi powers – the look on his friends' faces making a particular impression on Sasha. He then proceeded to show him meeting with the president, being forced to sign the contract putting him in the military, as well as images from the two years he spent in training – the bad times, but also some not-so-bad ones, too.
As he was about to end the mind meld session, Sasha grabbed his hand and shook her head. She then explained, "It's my turn now." Daniel's eyes widened slightly in a bit of surprise, not expecting Sasha to reciprocate the trip down memory lane. "You were willing to show me all of this – now I want you to see my memories," she explained. Daniel nodded as he began to concentrate a little more, shifting them from inside his own mind to inside Sasha's. When the blurred vision cleared, they were standing in front of a modest, but respectable house on a snowy day. Looking around, Daniel could see that they were not far outside a town somewhere. "Welcome to my home," Sasha said, as they saw a younger version of Sasha emerge from the front door of the house and proceed to play in the snow. Two people came out right behind her – presumably her mother and father, which Sasha confirmed.
The scene then shifted to inside the garage, where they saw the younger Sasha helping her father – a man with an above average build and short blond hair – work on the various machines, vehicles, and farm equipment that he was tasked with fixing. "Before the war, he was the best mechanic in town," Sasha explained. As they watched the two of them working on their latest fix-it job, Daniel asked Sasha, "Was this something he insisted on teaching you, or were you the one who wanted to learn from him?" Sasha thought for a moment before replying, "A little of both. I was fascinated by all the different machines he was working on, and my dad thought that these would be useful life skills for me." Daniel smiled as he said, "He sounds like a very good man." Sasha smiled longingly at the scene and responded, "He is."
Sasha then showed him the memories that he knew about, but that she wanted him to see for himself. This started with the trip to St. Petersburg she took with her mom to visit her grandmother – the time she was playing with some of the local children, the car coming right at her, forcing her to use her magic for the first time, the look on the other kids' faces immediately after, Sasha running away in tears back to her grandmother's apartment, and finally the two older women comforting her. She also showed her memories from when the war started – from the first Neuroi attacks, to the Orussian government asking all witches to enlist, to her own enlistment in the army, to seeing her parents off on the train heading east as they fled the Neuroi. "They told me to be strong," Sasha said, "And they also told me that they loved me and were proud of me for what I was doing." Daniel then took Sasha's hand, trying to comfort her as she relived these memories.
Soon after, they were back in Daniel's room at the base, where they opened their eyes and took in what they had just seen. Sasha then hugged Daniel tightly, pushing him onto his back on top of the bed. Daniel returned the embrace as they stayed this way for several minutes. She then pushed herself up slightly and said, "Thank you, Daniel, for showing me all of that. I think I understand what it meant for you to show that to me." Daniel smiled back and said, "Thank YOU for showing me YOUR memories. I know that had to have been difficult for you." Sasha smiled back as she began to tear up a bit. "I'm so sorry for everything you went through and for everything you lost. That must have been horrible for you!" Daniel then hugged Sasha tighter to him as he responded, "I do miss them – very much so. However, when I then think about everything I've gone through here – and being with you especially – I can't help but feel really happy."
They then kissed and began to cuddle with each other as they grew ever more tired. Before they fell asleep, Sasha asked Daniel, "When we're done with this war, what do you want to do?" Daniel hummed in thought for a few moments before replying, "I'm not entirely sure yet." He then turned his head to face Sasha and he added, "However, no matter where I go, or what I end up doing, I want to make sure that I'm by your side through it all." Sasha could only smile as she snuggled her face into his shoulder, as they both soon fell asleep with smiles on their faces.
I hope you all enjoyed that heart-warming (in my opinion) chapter. Remember, everyone, family is a very precious thing to have – perhaps the most precious thing in this world. We shouldn't take the family we have for granted! Cherish them and love them as much as you can!