Echoes of the Past

Tienerra sat quietly in the darkened room long after Jax had left, the dim glow of the holo-display flickering against her sharp features. The revelation of her father's final mission, the name Daridus Delta, and the unease in Jax's voice all swirled in her mind, clawing at her thoughts. She clenched her fists. Why had he kept this from her?

A memory stirred—one buried deep beneath years of training and survival. It surfaced unbidden, dragging her back to a time before she understood the true weight of war.

Flashback: A Father's Shadow

Tienerra had been only ten years old when she last saw her father, Argus Santii. The memory played out in her mind, vivid and unrelenting.

She had been at the Soltarian Military Base near Vareth'Kai (City of the Eternal Aether), a vast and imposing stronghold that shimmered beneath the twin moons of Soltar. It had been a half-day's flight from her home, a journey that had filled her with excitement at the time. She had wanted to see her father again, but as always, duty called him elsewhere.

Her mother, Tatianna, walked ahead of her through the towering hallways of the military command center. Her posture was straight, unwavering, the very image of a soldier, but Tienerra could sense the tension in her frame.

As they approached the upper-level offices, they came across a figure cloaked in ceremonial robes, his presence commanding but unreadable. Tatianna hesitated briefly before addressing him with the deference due to a leader.

"Xanvorius of the Council of Elders," she greeted, bowing her head slightly. "It has been some time."

The elder's golden eyes flicked down to Tienerra before a faint smirk crossed his lips. "It has. And I see young Tienerra has grown since I last saw her."

Tienerra, holding a small stuffed dragon doll, fidgeted slightly as the elder regarded her. She hadn't understood then why her mother's body tensed at his approach.

"Tell me, child, what is your little friend's name?" Xanvorius asked, his tone oddly casual.

She hesitated, then answered softly, "Ray… because it makes me happy, like the sun."

The elder chuckled, taking the doll for a brief moment, inspecting it with subtle hand gestures that seemed to trace unseen patterns in the air. Then, without explanation, he handed it back to her and turned his gaze toward Tatianna.

His next words were barely a whisper, spoken just out of Tienerra's earshot, but she still caught fragments of it:

"…The data is safe… Get out as soon as you can."

Tatianna's expression hardened. With a curt nod, she took Tienerra's hand and led her away.

Hours later, Tienerra was aboard a small Soltarian transport vessel, soaring above the planet's surface. She sat by the viewport, her small hands pressing against the glass as the familiar sight of their home came into view.

Below, the canyon stretched wide, cutting across the land like an old wound, the towering twisted tree standing at its center. A warm sense of comfort filled her chest as she spotted the flower-filled courtyard, where the dragon statue stood in its eternal watch.

Then, she saw him.

Her father.

Argus Santii walked slowly toward the tree, his long coat trailing behind him. Beside him stood Syn Brigand, his ever-loyal friend and confidant, the man who had fought beside him in countless battles and now stood as his shadow, ever watchful. The last rays of the sun illuminated his golden scales, casting a regal glow around his powerful frame. In the distance, a Kitsurai figure was seen walking back toward the mansion, his steps slow and deliberate.

The moment the ship landed, she bolted from the ramp.

"Tienerra, wait—" her mother called, but the words were lost to the wind. She weaved through the hallways of their mansion, dodging attendants and furniture alike, but as she rounded a corner, she came to an abrupt stop. Kazren Nian'tsu stood there, his piercing gaze falling upon her with a weight she couldn't yet comprehend. He studied her, arms crossed, his expression unreadable. A moment passed before he gave a slight nod, allowing her to continue. She hesitated for only a second before dashing past him, her excitement overriding any sense of unease, her small wings fluttering uselessly behind her. The weight of her excitement carried her faster than her legs could keep up.

She raced through the courtyard, the scent of wildflowers in the air, her eyes locked on her father's approaching figure. He looked up at the last moment, his golden gaze softening as he recognized her.

Then she tripped.

Her foot caught a loose stone on the pathway, and the ground rushed up to meet her. Her small stuffed dragon tumbled ahead of her, landing just shy of her father's feet.

For a breathless moment, Argus hesitated.

Then, with a deep chuckle, he reached down, picking up the stuffed dragon before crouching to meet his daughter's tear-filled eyes. "You've gotten faster."

Tienerra sniffed, rubbing at her knees before beaming up at him. "I'll be even faster next time!"

Argus lifted her into his arms, carrying her the rest of the way as Tatianna finally caught up, shaking her head but smiling nonetheless. Kazren stood nearby, his arms crossed, watching the exchange with an unreadable expression.

For a moment, everything was perfect.

But the moment didn't last.

As Argus held her close, his expression darkened slightly. He pulled Tatianna into a tight embrace, exchanging a quiet but urgent whisper.

"The data is safe. But we need to leave soon."

Tatianna's eyes flickered with understanding, but her fingers curled into his arm. "We don't have time. Xanvorius warned me—"

Kazren stepped forward, his voice low and firm. "If we leave now, we risk drawing more suspicion. The Council is watching. We do this the right way."

Argus exhaled, shaking his head. "We can't leave yet. The Nian'tsu family… I have to meet with them before we go."

Tienerra, too young to understand the gravity of their words, simply held onto her father, not wanting him to leave again. Kazren's gaze softened for a fraction of a second as he looked at her. He, too, had children waiting for him at home. Five of them. And he expected them to serve the Santii family, just as he did.

That had been the last time she saw her father before that fated day.

Present Day

Tienerra jolted out of the memory, her breath coming fast and shallow. Her fingers dug into the edge of the table, her mind reeling from the realization.

Jax watched her, the gleam in his amber eyes betraying his intrigue. "I take it that struck a nerve."

Tienerra exhaled slowly, forcing herself to regain control. "You said you had information. I want it."

Jax smirked, leaning back in his chair. "All in due time, Tienerra. But information isn't free."

He flicked the holo-display back to life, this time revealing a data lock icon labeled under Sable's encrypted files.

"You retrieve something for me, and I'll tell you everything you want to know about your father's final mission."

Tienerra's fists clenched at her sides. This was it. A chance to unravel the mystery that had plagued her for years.

She met Jax's gaze with unwavering determination. "Consider it done."