Amity sat down against a crate and ran her fingers through her bangs. Shutting her eyes, she inhaled deeply and breathed out. Kate curled against her leg, head pressed tightly to her knee.

"Amity?" Kate squeaked.

"Yeah?" Amity set an arm over her shoulder.

Kate looked up with wavering eyes, dried tears on her dusty face. "The man who killed dad, are you going to kill him? I hate him so much…"

Amity watched her carefully, then nodded, "Yeah, I plan to."

Kate wrapped her arms around her and cried while Amity patted her back.

"It's okay. You're safe now." Turning her head, Amity checked the label on the crate they were sitting against, then unhinged the lid and took out a food packet, passing it to Kate. "You hungry?"

"Food?" Kate took it eagerly.

"Yeah," Amity chuckled, taking another for herself. "Looks like Jx remembered to stock up."

The ship jolted, then smoothed its movement as it broke orbit. Amity looked up as the cockpit door opened and Jx stepped out. "I've set course back to Okohdako," he explained. "We'll regroup and figure out what to do there."

Amity frowned, "Did you know?"

"Know what?" Jx stared at her.

Amity glanced at Kate. "I need to talk to Jx about something. Wait here, okay?"

Kate nodded and continued eating.

Coming to her feet, Amity led Jx to the corner and spoke quietly, "Did you know that I died?"

Jx's eyes narrowed skeptically, then widened with realization. "Cerinia?"

Amity nodded, "Nega killed me there, or so he says." She shut her eyes and shook her head, "I don't know if it's true, but it makes a lot of sense. So many of the gaps in my past are explained by it…"

Jx put an arm around her, "You're alive now, that's what matters."

Amity pushed him away and stared at the floor. "The Ammehkuc brought me back. I was supposed to be dead. My parents are dead, the palace collapsed… for all I know the princess is dead too, but I'm still here. Why did they spare me? Why bring me back?"

Jx smiled a little. "Whatever the reason, I'm glad they did. If they hadn't, I never would have met you."

Amity smirked and shook her head. "It's just too much to take in." She folded her arms and sighed, "When we get to the Ammehkuc, I want some answers."

Jx gestured to Machina. "Why not ask them now?"

Amity frowned, "No, I want to hear this from them in person."

Jx glanced away quietly, then returned to her. "What happened to Athena? You said she stayed behind?"

"She told us to run while she fought Nega," Amity recalled.

"I wish we could go back for her…" Jx scratched his scalp.

"So do I," Amity replied. "But that's not what she wanted." She glanced over at Kate, "I'm worried about her too."

"The girl?"

Amity nodded. "Nega killed her father. She's in bad shape… she needs someone to care for her."

Jx looked over at Kate. "We'll have to find a good home for her. Maybe someone at the station could provide one."

"Yeah…" Amity stared at her and wiped her eye with the back of her hand, then turned to Jx. "So, Okohdako?"

He nodded, "We'll get there later today. Vincent's been working on the engine this whole time; I think he's actually upgraded it."

Amity smirked, "Good." She glanced at Kate, then at Jx. "Want to meet her?"

Jx followed her gaze, "Umm… sure."

The girl smiled as they approached.

"Kate, this is Jx," Amity introduced, gesturing a hand to him. "Jx, Kate."

Jx extended a hand. "Nice to meet you."

Kate watched his hand and swallowed, then wiped her hands on her skirt before clasping his hand and shaking it. "Hello."

Jx stared at her, trying to think what to say next. "…How are you?"

She shrugged and looked at the floor. "Okay…"

Amity patted Kate's shoulder. "No need to be scared of him," she grinned. "He's nicer than I am."

Kate giggled and hugged Amity's leg. "No way! No one's nicer than you!"

Jx laughed and glanced at Amity, "She certainly is attached to you."

Amity smiled and shrugged, then turned to Kate. "Give Jx a chance, okay? He's a good guy."

"Okay!" Kate nodded.

Amity stepped back and gestured to Jx and Kate ran forward and hugged his leg. Jx glanced at Amity with slight nervousness and she covered her mouth with her hand, snickering.

Lowering her arms to her sides, Amity turned to Kate, "How would you like to see the cockpit?"

Kate released Jx and took Amity's hand. "Let's go!"

"Just, uh, try not to touch anything…" Jx rubbed the back of his neck.

"Got it under control," Amity winked at him.

xXxXx

Opening the door, Amity lead Kate inside and pointed out the main viewport. "See that?"

"The stars!" Kate exclaimed, "They're going so fast!"

Amity laughed and picked her up under the arms, setting her in a seat. "Yep, we're in hyperspace."

Kate kicked her legs and settled back into the chair, then stared out the window again. "My dad showed me the stars back home…" She sniffed and wiped her eyes, watching the passing stardust.

"Kate?" Amity knelt beside her chair.

"I'm okay," Kate replied quietly, closing her eyes.

"You're thinking about your dad?"

Kate nodded and squeezed her eyes. "I'm scared, Amity."

Amity wrapped her arms around her. "It'll be okay, I promise."

Kate sniffed. "I miss daddy. When mom died I cried a lot, but I told dad I'd be strong."

"You are strong, Kate." Amity hugged her and closed her eyes. "I'm going to tell you something personal, okay?"

"Okay," Kate nodded and wiped her eyes.

"When my parents died, I cried too. I barely remember the day… there was an earthquake, and the roof was starting to collapse." Amity blinked, wiping her eyes. "I tried to run; I called out to my parents but I couldn't find them. I knew they were somewhere in the kitchens, but when I got there…"

Kate stared at her, "What happened? Did you find them?"

Amity shook her head, "The room was gone, fallen into the sea. I didn't even get to say goodbye…"

Kate hugged her, tears dripping down her face.

Amity hugged her back, smiling slightly. "I still cry when I think of them, but I know they'd be proud of me. Your dad's proud of you, too."

Kate nodded and held Amity tightly. "Thanks, Amity."

Pushing the door open gently, Jx leaned his head inside and looked at them. "Is everything alright?"

"We're fine," Amity looked up, stroking Kate's hair. "How's our progress?"

"I'll check." Jx stepped to the navigation console. Scratching his head, he tapped the glass display, then glanced back at them. "Five or six hours at least."

Glancing down at Kate, Amity tilted her head and noticed the girl's eyes were closed, head resting peacefully against her chest. She looked up at Jx, "So there's still a bit of time left."

"Yeah," he nodded, then set a hand on the radar and watched the screen. "This is strange…"

"What is?" Amity frowned.

He sat down, still watching the screen. "Long range radar shows a fleet gathered at Okohdako."

"A fleet? Some local government?"

Jx shook his head. "I can't tell exactly, it's too far to pick up ID signals. Given the number of ships I'd guess Gresha." He ran a hand over his scalp. "This is big…"

"What would they be after?" Amity glanced at Kate, seeing her still asleep.

"Well, if it is Gresha we'll have plenty of chance to find out. They've probably blockaded the planet by now." Jx rubbed his brow and sighed. "I'll have to signal ahead to the surface, maybe with permission we can get by without a fuss."

Amity nodded, "If it's alright with you, I think I'll take a nap until we arrive." She leaned back into the chair's cushion and closed her eyes.

"Yeah…" Jx watched her, then turned back to the console. "Good idea." He tilted his head and stared at her again, then let out a breath and faced forward.

xXxXx

Exiting hyperspace, Jx gazed out at the array of ships gathered around Orbital Station. A thin, elongated cruiser floated just above the station, shuttles moving back and forth between the two. The yellow comm. light blinked and Jx looked down and sighed, then tapped it. "Silver Crest, transport from Regis, flight one-six-eight-two-three; our clearance has already been transmitted." He released the button and waited for a reply.

"Acknowledged, Silver Crest," a stern female voice answered. "But the ground clearance procedures are not satisfactory given the current circumstances. Please lower your shields and submit to a full scan."

Jx grimaced, then sighed and slid the shield gauge to zero. "Go ahead."

Amity's eyes blinked open and she looked down at Kate, still asleep, then over to Jx, leaning back in his chair and rubbing his scalp. "Everything alright?" she inquired.

He shrugged and glanced back at her. "Could be worse. At least we're not being boarded."

She looked around as a blue wave of light passed through the room. "Scanning?"

"Yep," Jx stared out at the ships. "I don't know what they expect to find… It's not like we're taking this ship to the surface anyway, we still have to go to the station first."

"For how long?" Amity frowned.

"The scan? Just a couple minutes."

The door clicked and Amity and Jx turned to see Vincent enter. Staring out the viewport, Vincent wiped the grime from his wrench onto his pants, then looked at Jx. "Gresha?"

Jx nodded, "They're running a scan on us."

Amity watched Vincent, brushing Kate's hair with her hand. "Wait… Vincent? Isn't your father—"

"Admiral Conrad of Gresha," Vincent nodded and crossed his arms. Staring out the window, he watched the ships and frowned indignantly, then turned to the door. "Let me know when we land."