She stood there like a statue. Frozen. Still. In complete shock.
"…Cinder" someone called out.
"Cinder!" they then yelled.
She turned around and saw Dr. Erland, the head Doctor of The Eastern Commonwealth and head researcher of the Leumotisis vaccine. He was looking at her, his eyes filled with worry and concern.
"Cinder, this is something that I've known for some time now. And I've wanted to talk to you about it before this event even happened" said Dr. Erland.
He looked at her while she was still in shock. Dr. Erland then got out of his seat and walked over to her. He pulled her close, like a father should when his daughter is in danger. This is the girl he hung out with during their lunch breaks at the palace. This is the girl he helped to calm down when her step-sister passed away from Leumotisis. This is the girl who made his day brighter knowing how miserable she was and how miserable he himself was. This girl was his daughter. This girl wasn't a replacement for his real daughter who was murdered, but his real daughter that he has helped raised and seen grow since she was 12 and she started working at the palace as a mechanic and a mechanical engineering student. He wishes he could have told her sooner, much sooner so she could run away. But that was the past. And it was too late to do it.
"This isn't true" Cinder replied back.
"It can't be true. I'm not Lunar, and I'm certainly no princess" she continued.
Dr. Erland stroked her hair, running one of his hands throughout its length. He then grabbed her shoulder and squeezed it.
"Cinder, it is true" he replied.
Cinder's face turned pale. She looked up at him. Her eyes wide, begging for a lie even though her lie detector wasn't going off. She grabbed him and pleaded with him.
"Please Dr. Erland, please tell me isn't true. She's not my mother, my mother died in a hover car accident along with my father. I may not remember her, but that is what happened to her, that witch who is always trying to kill people is not my mother" she pleaded.
Dr. Erland sighed. He could understand how traumatizing this must be for her, to find out her entire life was based on a lie that he and his comrades told to her. He realized it was time for the entire truth to come out. He looked into her eyes and started the reply that she never wanted to hear.
"Cinder, this is something I've wanted to talk to you about for the longest time. I'll start by saying, I knew who you were since the day you came into this galaxy because I was one of two doctors on Luna who delivered you. I was one of the first people to hold you, to hear you cry, to see your eyes open in anticipation of life. I was there. There was also another man with me; his name was Dr. Logan Tanner. Logan and I were the best of friends, we went through everything together, and nevertheless something changed. One night, during one of the Congressional meetings, Queen Channary talking about eradicating the rest of the shells. When we mean eradication, we mean something much more sinister. Since it was found out that a shell was responsible for the death of the former King and Queen, she wanted them gone from the world. I along with the rest of the men and women there fully supported the idea. Then, my daughter was born, and she was a shell. I couldn't believe it. She was so special to me, and she was going to die and I couldn't handle it. She was taken away from me, and to make things worse if it was someone else's child I would have fully supported it. To make things short, I joined an underground Lunar program called the Resistance. I joined it and to my surprised Logan was also a member. The resistance started the fire that caused your Cybernetic operation and kidnapped you so you could make a difference and brought you to Earth. We got a man named Lihn Garan to adopt you and I've been here looking over you all along. Logan is now with his former fling Michelle Benoit, Lihn Garan suddenly passed as you know, and I am now here looking over you. There is so much more but there is only so much I can tell you Cinder".
"There is a lot more than that Sage, but that sounds like the mist of it though" someone said from the darkness.
Cinder and Dr. Erland turned around to see a tall half red half grey haired man. He had some freckles and was somewhat big around the midsection.
"Logan?" Dr. Earland asked.
"Sage, it's so good to see you again" he answered.
"Princess, I'm sorry for this inconvenient time" he replied.
"Don't call me that!" Cinder interrupted.
"What are you doing here? We promised never to see each other again" Dr. Earland said.
"I'm sorry Ms.…" he held on.
"Lihn, Lihn Cinder" Cinder introduced.
"Well, Princ…I mean Ms. Lihn, I'm sorry to intrude, but this is urgent. We need to get you out of here. There is no doubt that Channary's team on Luna has most likely found you. Luna has a very fast intelligence system, and they are on their way here to get you back I don't deny" he said.
"Yes, it's true. Cinder, you have to get out of the Commonwealth, you have to run from her. If she catches you, it'll be over and you'll become a pawn, just like Levana and Winter are" replied Dr. Erland.
"Please Ms. Lihn, I now this is a whole lot to take in, but the world needs you. Luna needs you. You must run from her, it is vital" said Dr. Tanner.
"I don't have anyone to go to, or anywhere to go. I'm a mechanic, a cyborg mechanic who works at the Palace and hangs out with the Prince and…"
It was at this moment that she realized the problem, everyone watches the Dianan Crystal show from Luna which means, he knows. Her "family" knows, her co-workers know, people who she has never even met know. Everyone knows.
"Oh no. Everyone knows about this. Even Kai" she moaned.
"Yes they do, which means people will be looking for you. I have no doubt that they've already linked you to the Commonwealth; however you'll be gone before they reach here. The only thing we have to worry about is Luna contacting the Earthen Union and threatening them with either war, or to sign the Peace Treaty. We also need to consider if there will be a bounty on finding you and bringing you back to Channary alive" said Dr. Tanner.
Cinder looked at the old man in awe. She couldn't believe that this was her life. She couldn't believe the words that are coming out of his or Dr. Erland's mouths. All of it must be lies, but her lie detector isn't going off.
"This is why I've brought someone who can help us. He may just be a petty con, but he'll do since he knows if he messes this up, he'll be in the worst situation ever. He also knows how to evade the military, since he has been on the run from the Military of the American Republic" Dr. Tanner continued.
Dr. Tanner moved aside and held his hand out. Cinder and Dr. Erland in unison looked at the guy who was to help her. He was tall, medium muscle frame, had brown hair, sky blue eyes, and a huge grin on his face. He wore a military hat and had on slightly baggy cargo pants, a brown leather jacket, and a white shirt.
"Hello Princess! I am your acquaintance on this mission to get you away from your down-right crazy mother. Princess, my name is Captain Carswell Thorne".