Epilogue
A Promise for the Future

During the battle in the ruins, Hunter's Guildmaster Tyler Clark had gathered his people around in the guild hall, where they listened to the communications between the BlackHawk party. When news was received of the monster's defeat, a shout was heard all through the main ship. That shout turned to stunned silence at the news of Shade Stalker. Diego Angelus listened closely, as the two warriors clashed swords. When Buffy and IceDrop came through the doors, he pulled the FOnewearl off to the side.

"What happened?" he asked

"We had just killed the monster," Buffy explained, "When that swordsman appeared out of nowhere. Mike called him 'Dansen'."

"Apparently, he's taken on a new name," Diego tells her, "That guy now calls himself 'Shade Stalker'. He's joined with that consciousness, and is probably more powerful than any hunter in the guild."

"Lara stayed behind to wait for Mike. I hope they're ok."

The hunters continued to listen, until the communications system went silent.

Mike and Lara had gone from the teleporter, back to their home instead of to the guild. When they arrived, Lara began tending to a few wounds that her husband had gotten in his duel with Shade Stalker.

Amelia walks in on the two, with Jessica in her arms. "Lara," the FOmarl asks, "Why don't you let me take care of my brother. While you two were out fighting, Jessie never stopped crying."

"Did she?" Mike inquires as Amelia hands her niece to Lara and starts healing her brother's wounds

"She sure did," Seifer Angelus says, coming into the room behind Amelia, "One would think she knew what was going on." Seifer punches in a few words on his BEE uplink, sending a message to his brother. A message appears in just a few minutes in reply. "Well," Seifer thinks out loud, "Will you look at that. Clark's trowing a victory party at the observation deck. Wouldn't be much of a party without the guests of honor."

"We'll be there shortly," Mike tells him, "I've got to put the Elysion back where it belongs, and get into another uniform."

"And I want to get Jessie ready to go, too," Lara finishes, "The rest of the guild's not seen her, and I think it's time."

"You know," Seifer muses, "I don't think this will really be much of a party without Davion around. Since he disappeared, things just haven't been the same."

"I know," Mike replies, "We miss him, too. I've been down to the forests on a number of occasions looking for him. I've turned up nothing, though."

Seifer and Amelia walk out of the room, and head to the observation deck, leaving Mike and Lara to contemplate everything that's happened in the past few days. Mike takes the Elysion and puts it back in its box, and walks back to Lara in the nursery. The two get their daughter ready to go, and all three BlackHawks leave their home headed to the victory celebration.

The three are met by almost the entire Hunter's guild, all wishing them well. Several HUnewearls and FOmarls gathered around Lara, who introduced them to Jessica. Mike stood there with his wife and child, talking and enjoying the party. The Hunters partied through the night, while the BlackHawks turned in early.

The next morning, Mike stood in front of Principal Tyrell's desk. Like usual, Tyrell had his back turned to the HUmar, and his hands crossed behind his back, looking out the observation port. "What is it you wanted to discuss, Mr. BlackHawk?" the Principal asked.

"Sir, it's about Ragol," Mike began, "After hearing Master Zoke's last words, I don't think Ragol is the best place for our people. After that last battle, my reservations about Ragol were only made stronger. If there are creatures like that one on Ragol, then landing there will only be trouble. More trouble than the Hunter's Guild can deal with."

"Mr. BlackHawk," Tyrell reminds Mike, "You do know that if we don't land here, we'll probaly never find another suitable world for our people. We searched 12 sectors before Pioneer 1 lifted off from Coral. Ragol was the only world that was suitable for our needs. We have to land here. We have no real choice. Your reservations are noted, but our hands are tied. We're landing on Ragol in 3 days. We've found a suitable spot on a continent several thousand kilometers from Pioneer 1. We won't land near the ruins. That should keep us relatively safe."

Mike turns around and walks out, thinking to himself, "I sincerely doubt it."

Three days later, standing on a hill in a forested part of Ragol, two mysterious warriors stand, watching Pioneer 2 make its approach to land.

"What do you think, my young friend?" the elder warrior asks.

"I think," the younger answers, "if Pioneer 2 is landing here, then there will be more and more need for people like me. We need to contact the Dragon before too long."

"I think you may be right. Now, draw your sword and let's continue your training." The two warriors clash blades as Pioneer 2 makes its touchdown on another continent far away from them.

3 years have now passed since Pioneer 2 has landed, and now, Mike BlackHawk is sitting in the park of the colony now referred to as "Pioneer City", with his daughter, Jessica. "Daddy," the young girl asks, "Why are you a hunter?"

Mike looks up to the skies, and thinks of the right words to use. "Sweetie," he begins, "A lot of people have asked me that question over the years. I guess it's because my father, and Master Zoke taught me something very important. About how a world where the strong survive and the weak just die would be a horrible fate for our people. They taught me that it should be our job to protect the helpless, not to prey on them."

"Can you teach me to be a hunter?"

"Maybe in a couple of years. You're still rather young, and I'd hate to start training you at this age." Mike then hears a beeping coming from his waist and looks down at his BEE uplink. It's a message from Maya.

"Come on, honey," the HUmar tells his daughter, "We've got to go. I think your new sister is coming." Mike drops a telepipe and the two go through the teleport gate.

The new medical center in Pioneer City was christened the "Rico Tyrell Memorial Medical Center". Rico's red ring sits on display in a glass case in the foyer. Several orderlies push a gurney through this area, from the emergency ward to the delivery room.

"Maya," Lara BlackHawk asks, "Has Mike made it here yet?"

"He's on his way, with Jessica," the RAcaseal answers, "They'll be here shortly."

Mike and Jessica appear through a telepipe, and run up to Lara. "I guess she's on the way," Mike tells Jessica, "Sweetie, you stay with your Aunts Maya and Amelia. We'll be back shortly." Mike then takes Lara's hand as they go through the doors to the delivery area. Jessica holds onto Maya, as Amelia stands with them. Seifer and Diego Angelus come through the hallway, only to get the news that Mike and Lara had already gone into delivery.

Several hours pass, and Mike BlackHawk comes through the door and motions for everyone to join him. They all go through to the nursery window, where Mike nods to the nurse. She picks up a newborn wrapped in a pink blanket.

"Have you decided on a name yet," Diego asks, "I'm sure Lara's been thinking hard to find one."

"We decided to name her Rhiana Michelle," Lara answers as an orderly pushes her up to the group in a wheelchair, "If we had a boy, we were going to name him after Mike's father, David Antonius."

"How long did you know you were having a girl?" Seifer inquires

"Only after my last checkup," Lara explains, "I couldn't stand the mystery anymore and asked the doctor to tell me."

The nurse brings Rhiana out to her mother, who cradles her close to her. Amelia gets out her camera and asks a doctor to take a picture as Jessica, Maya, Galveris, Seifer and Diego gathered around Mike and Lara. Amelia got in close as the doctor pointed the device at the group.

"Are you all friends?" he asks of the party

"Closer than that," Mike explains, "We're all family." That said, the doctor snaps the picture, which soon went in the BlackHawk family's album.