The longest chapter so far, very revealing! Don't have anything else to say, actually, so...START READING ^_

3. I DON'T WANNA LOSE YOU...

"Talwyn", her dad said and turned her to face her. He kneeled down so they we're face to face. Talwyn looked her dad. She found it very hard to be angry at him, when he looked like a big teddy bear with warm brown eyes and pitch black beard. The marks of aging had started to show, but it suited him. Talwyn noticed, how sad dad now looked. And in a way, scared.

"I know that you're very upset with me."

Talwyn lowered her gace and crossed her arms.

"But this is very important. Everything we have learned, studied and found out about Lombaxes might depend on this."

Talwyn looked at her dad, now very curious.

"So...another adventure?" she said a little more cheerfully. No matter how angry she was now, she couldn't denie all the fun, excitment and pure joy she had had with her dad during his expeditions she had come along. Adventures, she said. He hadn't taken Talwyn with him in a long time, and so she was now hoping for the best.

"With that blue man? Can I come?"

"No. I'm sorry honey, not this time", her dad said smiling gently.

Talwyn felt a huge waist in her heart, like every time her dad didn't take her with him.

"Why not?" she asked, like she did every single time. But this time, her dad's answer was different. He sighed again, and said:

"Remember the last trip we had? And that I had to leave earlier?"

Talwyn nodded. They had gone to another adventure a week ago, to Meridian City. Dad had basicly just met a lot of important people, as Talwyn thought, and she had been looked after by two old warbots, Cronk and Zephyr. They we're the ones to took care of her whenever dad had some business she couldn't attend. Dad had to leave Meridian City a little earlier, and he had come to take Talwyn home a few days later.

"You never told me why you had to leave", Talwyn said a little concerned. Her dad continued:

"Well, during that time we were in Meridian City, the Space Station was invated."

Talwyn's eyes widened. The security system was extremely complex and she'd never believe someone could have gone pass it.

"By space pirates. I got a holo message from the main computer a day later, and decided to go see the damage myself first. I only wanted to protect you, in case the pirates had left some kind of booby traps behind or there might still be some here."

"Space pirates?" Talwyn almost screamed. "Dad, are you in a trouble? Is that why you need that man's help? Is that why we can't visit our home planet now? Is that why I can't come? Because pirates don't scare me, dad! I know I would..."

"Talwyn, honey, you need to listen to your dad now!" Max Apogee stopped her daughter's quick, yet understandable questions. Talwyn felt her heart beat faster and faster, she didn't remember when was the last time she had been so excited and scared about something.

"They only took one thing and I need to get it back."

Talwyn didn't even had to ask, her dad knew the question and answered to her:

"Though I want to protect you, you deserve the truth. It was the Lombax artefact, the one I've tried to figure out for a while now."

"So...you're going after the pirates? Dad, you could get hurt!" Talwyn shouted and hugged her dad.

"I don't wanna lose you..."

She let the tears fill her eyes and drop on his dad's shoulder. She had been scared for her dad before, but this was different. She hadn't seen her dad this scared as well.

"Honey, I don't want to lose you too, that's why you do understand why you can't come with me, don't you?"

Talwyn whimpered and tryed to say something to get her dad stay.

"Cronk and Zephyr will look after you while I'm gone. You like Cronk and Zephyr, don't you honey? Remember how much fun you..."

"P-promise me that y-you'll come home soon a-and promise you w-won't get hurt." Talwyn sobbed and hugged her dad with all of her strengh.

"I promise, honey. I'll be home sooner than you know", her dad said and stroked Talwyn's back. The little girl was still crying her eyes out and Max Apogee didn't let go of his daughter.

Slowly she stopped crying and was sobbing when she heard a voice from the speaker.

"Mr. Apogee? It's Zephyr here, sir! Asking permission for landing, sir!"

She let her dad go and he got up. He took Talwyn's hand and gave her a small sad smile. They then walked to the nearest computer together and he said to the microphone:

"Permission granted. And Zephyr, enough with the sir."

The next chapter will be the last one. :) Though there are no comments ( . ) I believe there is...might be...just MAYBE...people who...someone...

(awkward silence)

...I'll post the last one soon.