Chapter 69

"The age of two begins. One day it will be one again." Said the voice.

The light fades. Returned to reality. The two Searchers and Siren stood still like statues. When they looked at the bird that blinded them, it was no longer there. Perhaps the vision that unfolded was long yet it seemed that only a second had passed. Searcher Kharkov looked to Red waiting for an answer. But at the same time, Red looked to Alesia if she was involved with the occurrence.

Alesia's face was neutral. Neither shocked or amazed, it was both at the same time. Alesia turned to Maya, who was revealed to be her niece. Maya's face showed disbelief but slowly changing into another.

Not denial but acceptance it seemed.

Maya looked at Alesia who she now confirmed, her aunt. She avert her eyes down to the ground, head down because of the weight of the truth.

The two men looked at one another again.

"Never seen that bird before..." Red said. "You've seen it?"

"I did. Once." Kharkov blinked his eyes many times. "What do you think?"

"Don't know a thing. Could be a Guardian, Eridian or just..." Red looked to Maya and Alesia, thinking what comes next. "Akari is dead so that means it was the truth. Is it Aldari?"

Alesia closed her eyes. "It was."

"So his intel was correct." Red could not believe it. "Holy shit.

"This place is not what we think it is." Kharkov commented and looked around Tretho. "Maybe there's more things that Akari did not tell or even know about this place.

Red glanced at Maya, he could only sympathise with the woman. He gestured his head to Kharkov and the man understood. Kharkov moved to Maya and put his hand on her back. Maya sucked on her nose then wiped her upper lip. The caring Kharkov shushed softly and rubbed her back, in hopes to make Maya feel better.

Red stood closer to Alesia, she stared at the man.

"I recommend you to sit down and rest." Red told her. "There's a place where you can sit down. You need to rest Aldari."

Alesia nodded and sighed. "I have forgotten her face... It's been a while..."

"I understand." Red pointed in a direction with his palm.

Alesia turned to the direction and saw a chair with a small table. Red remained close to her, to ensure nothing happened. But as Alesia took the first step, suddenly Maya mumbled.

"What…"

Alesia stopped and focused on Maya. Red prepared himself to intervene.

Maya raised her head. Her face was confused yet calm. "What was my father like?"

Alesia released a breath through her nostril. "You look more like your father aside from your lips. I don't know his name but he was her second one."

"Hmmm..." Maya nodded and looked down. "That's how my mother looks..."

Again, silence filled the temple, the wind was absent. The two Siren were visibly exhausted.

Kharkov patted her back. "Come on Maya, I need you to follow me."

Maya looked to Kharkov. "If my aunt is Alesia, then Handsome Jack is my uncle. You knew about this?"

Kharkov nodded. "Axton told us about it but Red made sure to keep it a secret. Because of Akari, remember?" Kharkov softly pulled Maya's arm. "Come on now, let's get you out of here."

"Then that means Angel and I were cousins..."

"Yes. And you killed her."

Maya shifted to Alesia, her face slowly bitter.

Red raised his hand to stop her from advancing. "I won't let you Alesia."

Alesia pushed his hand away. "Don't think this change anything. We may be related but what is done cannot be undone.

Red raised his hand again.

Alesia ignored it. "I will return and you know what I will do. Maybe the Salisula won't let me but they won't protect your friends. Your friends will pay for what they did, child."

"We didn't kill her. Handsome Jack did!" Maya refuted. "He forced her into that bunker like an animal! She used Angel to charge the Vault Key!"

"Yet you were there. You were there when she died." Alesia stared at her coldly. "It was you that shot the pumps. Did you not?"

Maya could not refute. Some guilt began to bubble in her chest.

"Was not your friends who also shot the pumps? Huh? Did you not hear her screams?!? She screamed because you were killing her! Don't you know how much pain she has to go through!"

Alesia shook her head and closed her eyes. She moved away with her back facing Maya. Alesia was in pain, perhaps remembering the painful moment of her daughter's death. Red remained close yet gestured to Kharkov, to escort Maya away.

Alesia stopped then glanced at Maya again. "You should've stayed in Athenas, Child. You should've stayed with Jethro and lived your life there."

"Brother Jethro is gone."

"What?" Alesia tilted her head.

"Brother Jethro is dead…"

Alesia went quiet for a minute. Then asked. "When..?"

"11 years ago… he had a brain tumour…" Maya somberly said.

Another moment of silence was given. Alesia digesting the news of the trustworthy man passing. She also knew him through her sister so it affected her in some way.

"I'm sorry for your loss…" Alesia said and departed away. Red walked beside her, carefully looking at her wellbeing.

Maya wanted to say something but Kharkov interrupted.

"Let's go. It's better that you move away from her." Kharkov advised.

Maya looked at him and said nothing, she turned around and began to walk to the exit. Just like Red, Kharkov was attentive to her wellbeing. Maya then glanced back at Alesia, having mixed emotions onto the fact that she was related to the woman. But Kharkov made sure that Maya kept moving. The last thing she saw was Red assisting her to sit down on a chair. They exited the temple and went to walk through the forest. Kharkov planned to go to the Gate and travelled to The Null.

"Red will join us after this. Come on now, let's move."

"What's going to happen next…?"

"Now you both have the title Nia Hewina, nobody knows what's going to happen next." Kharkov looked at Maya. "Red and I have talked about what could happen next. What's more important is to get you out of here."

"For her safety?" She said having some doubts about Kharkov.

"For BOTH of your safety." Kharkov stopped, pulled Maya and looked at her seriously. "You can doubt our loyalty but I will make it clear. Red and I will try our best to be the middle party. We will help whatever we can but in the end both of you will decide the fate of your race. Whether you work together or you will fight and see who survives."

"You know that she won't negotiate."

"So prepare yourself. Prepare for whatever will happen. I cannot give any guarantees, Maya."

Maya breathed in then released. "So another war."

Kharkov nodded. They both stared at each other then looked around the forest.

The sound of footsteps were near. They both looked to the source. Red caught up to them.

"What the hell are you guys here? You're supposed to be at Pandora now.' Red exclaimed.

"Maya and I were waiting for you, Red." Kharkov said to him.

"Have Kharkov told you everything Maya? About what would happen next?"

"That both me and her will go to war to each other?"

"You can talk it out but I won't bet on it." Red shook his head.

"He did."

"Well, we should rush out before anything out of the ordinary happens. Let's get a move on." Red pointed his hand forward.