Three Square Meals Ch. 050

Jade smiled at them all, her heart lifting with relief to see they were all unscathed. "Are you all okay?" she asked them anyway, as they walked up the loading ramp.

"Yeah, we're good," John replied. "It's over."

The Nymph nodded, and reached out a comforting hand to stroke Rachel's cheek. The brunette looked across at her, and smiled warmly, but Jade could see she was in pain.

"It's okay, I'll look after her," Dana said, taking Rachel's arm, and walking with her through to the corridor behind. She glanced back at John before she left, and said with a smile, "John... don't forget."

When the two girls had left, Jade turned to look at him quizzically, as he ushered the kidnap victims onto the safety of the Raptor. "Don't forget what?" the Nymph asked him curiously.

John smiled at her and said, "She wants us to pick something up before we head back to the Invictus. Just fly fifty metres to the west, and I'll load it in the back."

***

There had been a quiet reunion up on the Invictus, when they were all gathered together once more. Everyone was jubilant to see each other looking safe and well, but out of respect for Rachel and the grief she was dealing with, celebrations were muted. John was surprised to see Irillith waiting for them in the Hangar Bay, alongside Alyssa and Calara, but she smiled at him shyly when he nodded towards her in gratitude.

A small Terran Federation Fleet led by a Captain Munroe, had jumped into the Beta-Draconis system while the Raptor was returning to the Invictus. The heavy cruiser captain leading the group had been sent by Charles Harris, and he looked suitably shocked when Alyssa handed over the captured mercenary cruiser to his care.

John had settled the tearful but overwhelmingly grateful kidnap victims in the spare quarters on Deck Four, while Alyssa set a fresh course for New Eden. Rachel went to her own room, to be alone with her thoughts, but Dana insisted on going along to help comfort her. John and the girls agreed between them that they'd do a debrief once the last of their business here was resolved, so the journey back to Rachel's homeworld was uneventful.

Alyssa contacted Detective Karen Walsh, to let her know that the kidnapping victims had been rescued, and requested that they drop them off at Avalon Police Headquarters for the Police to help them return to their families. Karen agreed immediately, and was astounded to hear that they'd wiped out the Armoured Cobras, who they'd confirmed were responsible for the plague of kidnappings.

John, Alyssa and Rachel waved the rescued women and children goodbye, as they left them with Detective Walsh and her capable retinue of medical personnel and police officers. They walked back into the Raptor and sealed the loading ramp behind them.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Alyssa asked Rachel gently, placing her hand on her friend's shoulder, and stroking her reassuringly through the material of her black skirt suit.

The brunette nodded firmly and said, "I've been avoiding the estate for two years. I need to go back to make my peace with everything that's happened."

John held her hand, and they followed Alyssa up to the cockpit. The blonde girl sat in the pilot's chair, powered up the engines again, then carefully lifted off as she added more power to the retro-thrusters. The Raptor rose smoothly, and then turned and began to head west, flying away from the city. They sat quietly, not wanting to disturb Rachel as she grappled with her emotions, and after ten minutes, they received an incoming call.

"Incoming vessel, this is restricted airspace. Please identify your name and business," the man on the call said firmly.

Rachel leaned forward and said quietly, "Rachel Voss. Here to visit my mother's grave."

There was silence for several long moments, before the man said respectfully, "Please proceed Miss Voss."

Alyssa followed the guide path, and they flew across acres of beautiful, well tended grounds. A huge mansion eventually appeared ahead of them, and Alyssa looped around the massive stately home, following the green path on her HUD. She brought them down to land at the back of the mansion on a clearly marked landing pad, and they all stood together, then exited the Raptor.

Rachel led them across the fine gravel area, and the stones crunched quietly under their black leather shoes. They headed away from the mansion itself, and followed the brunette to a well kept flagstone path, which led down a gentle hill towards a small lake surrounded by trees. The path ended by a small summer house that overlooked the lake, and Rachel walked off the path and over the neatly cropped grass. She walked under the willow trees and half way around the lake until she stopped by a carefully tended grave. The headstone read:

In loving memory of

Catherine Voss

Beloved wife and mother

"She loved this place," Rachel said, her eyes filling with tears. "I have so many fond memories of her here."

John put his arm around her comfortingly, and she leant her head against his shoulder. Alyssa closed her eyes for a moment, then looked around once more, taking in the psychic echoes around the lake.

"You used to spend summers here, and played on a red boat on the lake," she said softly. "Then in the evening, you used to sit in the rocking chair together, on the veranda by the summer house. The two of you liked to drink hot chocolate, while you watched the fireflies over the lake."

Rachel stared at her with wide eyes, and said in wonder, "How do you know that?"

Alyssa turned and smiled kindly at the girl and said quietly, "I can feel her presence here very strongly. When people feel strong emotions in a place, they leave behind a psychic echo. Your mother loved you very much."

Tears were rolling down Rachel's cheeks as she stared out across the lake. "It's been ten years, but I miss her so much," she said sadly.

"Would you like to see her again?" Alyssa asked her tentatively, and Rachel turned towards her, her face filled with hope.

"More than anything," she said earnestly.

Alyssa reached up her hand, and touched Rachel's face. Suddenly she could see everything that Alyssa had described, and so much more. The picnic they had under the willow tree. The time her father had fallen out of the boat, and come up with a lily leaf on top of his head, making her and her mother fall about with laughter. Learning to ride a bicycle on the grass, and her mother running behind her, pushing the seat, and clapping with joy as Rachel cycled on her own for the very first time. The look on her mother's face was so proud, and so full of love.

"Thank you," Rachel sobbed gratefully. "You don't know what this means to me."

John and Alyssa held the overcome girl, comforting her in their arms as she stood between them, her shoulders trembling as she wept for her lost mother. Eventually she pulled back, and breathed a deep sigh.

She looked Alyssa in her bright cerulean eyes, and said with conviction, "I'm ready."

Alyssa smiled at her lovingly, and replied, "I know."

***

They walked back up the hill a couple of hours later. Rachel was quiet, but at peace, and she walked hand-in-hand with John and Alyssa as they headed towards the mansion. A man in a smart business suit was waiting for them by the gravel area at the top of the hill, and his eyes widened slightly when he saw them approach. His attention was completely on Rachel, and he appeared to be studying her intently.

Rachel stopped when they reached him, and let her hands slip out of John and Alyssa's.

*Go ahead to the Raptor,* she thought to Alyssa. *I'll join you shortly.*

Nodding, Alyssa and John walked away, leaving the girl with her father.

Henry Voss stared at his daughter for a long moment, then his eyes darted away, and over towards the lake. The site of her mother's grave.

He looked back at Rachel, and his eyes grew heavy with sorrow as he said haltingly, "Rachel, I'm so sorry."

She smiled sadly, and nodded, then walked over to him and wrapped him in a warm embrace. "I forgive you, Daddy," she whispered to him, as he hugged her tightly.