Chapter ?:
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The Los Angeles Cybernetic Treatment Clinic was a far cry quieter… perhaps even a bit more efficient, since Caerlise hadn't returned from school that day.

Dr. Rebeccah Castle read the girl's email for the thousandth time on her smart-phone, her kind eyes appearing more tired than usual behind her glasses.

Heya Doc,
Listen… I got to wondering about what I want to do with my life and
decided that I need some time to think everything thru.
dont worry about me, Im with friends… besides, even if I wasnt
would u really worry about if I was hurt? dont answer that LOL! ;o)

I love u Doc… no matter what happens in this life, never forget that!
-Lise

PS—would u mind paying that traffic ticket on my bike? kthnx!

:D

The woman smiled, reading the email in the Girl's voice perfectly. Her eyes turned to a view screen on the far wall depicting a ship's travel progress en-route to the large Gas Planet. The woman laughed despite the severity of the situation, shaking her head. "It appears that our great-great-great grandfather's legacy has finally awakened." The woman smiled, "At least it is in good hands."

Dr. Castle stood up, her beautiful 40 year old body certainly not showing its age. Her long red brown hair was only perfected further by her kind, dark eyes. The woman walked over to a framed picture on her desk of a young boy with red brown hair holding his baby sister, smiling broadly and proudly for the camera. She smiled, setting her phone down and touching the boy's face with her agile finger tips.

"This is how I choose to remember you, brother… Innocent and kind… Thoughtful…" She closed her eyes, remembering his estranged teenage years and how he had a falling out with their father. "… Father always knew you had a defiant nature…; You were too similar. Such a rampant ambition, the both of you. You always wanted to be in control of everything…" Her eyes were in a far off place. "Grandfather was right to hide our forefather's secrets from you." Her eyes hardened in memory. "And you, Father… you were far too untrusting, even of your own flesh and blood."

The woman sat at the desk and typed in a password on the keyboard… taking her time before she hit the enter button. On the view screen across the room, a sharp marker point flashed along the Ship's route. The label "EMPYREAN" was affixed to it in bold red letters. "At the very least, get well rested and repaired…" she whispered as she closed her eyes.

She slowly opened them, looking at another picture on her desk. It was of Caerlise, Jidane, and Kyrie, from their freshman year of high school; a rag tag bunch, as raggedy and taggedy as the best of them. Dr. Castle focused on Caerlise and her big smile. She knew from the moment she met the girl that she was different from the rest…

"That girl will definitely be one of the few to speak on Mankind's behalf... she will change the fate of us all." Rebeccah smiled, recalling Caerlise's gruff exterior. For all her toughness, she always saw Lise's heart shining through, always true and passionate. "She will continue to change … The Earth and the Universe will all change to bring innovation to the future of Humanity."

"She will change in ways that you could not…

…Alejandro."