Of the mother, Comes forth the child Pt 1

Dear readers, Its time to meet little Mara. I hope you love her as much as I do writing about her and her mother Taya.
- Ashlie Long

                                                      5 years after the events of Past Lives....
The little red headed child toddled around her home on Pator III, the only home she had known for 5 years. As the little girl built with her space cubes and chattered with her great aunt the thin gold chain around her neck clinked against her blocks. On the chain lay a tiny purple heart-shaped chip the child could push when she wanted and see a picture of her mother, and she pushed it often, just to hear the voice of a woman she had never met. As the girl played, her guardian sat in the shadows to allow her free time, secretly recording everything for her niece, in the hope they'd wake her soon. 5 years in a cryopod, so many memories lost with her only child, a surprise, a miracle even for pod pilots to have children. "Little one, Its time to go outside." the older woman said, taking the child's hand. The little girl followed, green eyes twinkling with ideas and plots for her adventure today.

"She's so much like her mother, that fiery red hair, but your eyes. Her attitude is Taya through and through, How's our girl doing? Have they figured her out?" The woman asked.

"No, and with this new war going on I doubt they'll ever figure her out, Do you realize how many hospitals are swarmed with re-clones going on all day, at least 6 or 7 times a day this one guy comes through. But I still visit her, floating in her Cryopod. She's still as beautiful as ever, and still a fire ball. She keeps irritating the doctors since every time they take a look at her Code its changed on em" the man laughed softly as he recalled his spit fire friend and sometimes lover. This was not the purpose of his call though, to rehash old wounds, no he wanted to find out the status of his daughter and do his best to keep her out of the mess that her parents were in. "How's My little Mara? You know, I told Tay we should'a named her Moon 6 Belt 5, but she didn't find it funny. In fact she punched me for it...." Krennel laughed as the comm was turned so he could watch his little girl play "Still taking vid feeds and photos for Taya? You know she'd kick herself if she had a choice in this matter. They're still trying to figure out how she's matari born, yet carries DNA from the ancients. That threw everyone for a loop. The originators, the beginnings, before Jove even and our girl holds it." He watched his little girl run and play and chase the local bugs for a while before his alarms went off to tell him he was needed elsewhere "Gotta Go, Thanks Alenna" he said before hanging up the call.

                                                              15 years later...
"Mara Darius Get your wanna be pod pilot, half blood ass in my office right now" the older woman yelled, It was her first chance at being a pilot and already she fucked it up by tripping and busting her nose... right into her training officer earlier that week so she dared not keep her superior waiting. She had no real idea why she wanted to fly, except to be like her parents. She reached her hand up to rub the heart shaped chip between her fingers as she ran, her boots thudding on the metal grating. It was her 20th birthday, and a week after her graduation. Only time would tell what this little one would bring to the field of flight and fight...

To be Continued....

Of the mother, Comes forth the child pt. 2

Mara marched into the office trying not to show her reddened face at the crack about her parentage, soon she stood before the woman who had called for her "Yes Ma'am?" she asked softly, dipping her head as a sign of respect. The woman just scoffed at her "Little girl, You are only hear because of your mother. Otherwise I'd not have hired you, Hell I'd rather have your mother. Full blood Matari woman like her, in the pilot seat, pure magic. But I got you... So here's how it works half blood. I hire you, You do what I say to do. You get cleared to fly solo got it?" The woman said, though Mara paid little attention to her hurtful words, the words of work hit her ears. "Yes ma'am, Certainly ma'am. I was wondering..." she paused a moment kicking her boot against the metal floor of the space station's office. She wondered if the woman would even answer her questions, as she looked up, tears in her eyes the woman's face said all she needed to know. She was at least interested to know what the young woman wanted. "My mother, You knew her right? Can you... can you tell me more about her? I heard they are keeping her at a deep space station, out of reach of the wars." the red head finally continued looking hopeful.

"Your mother.. Yes I knew her. we flew together at one point, she had an unfailing optimism that seemed to help no matter what job we took. We had a few 'get the pirate bring his tag back' type missions she seemed to love the most. You've got her hair, her mouth, that little smirk she had, and you are like her... but also like your father, another good pilot should you fly past him one day. Don't doubt you will. Sit..." the older woman started pointing to a chair in her office for the girl to sit in, Mara did as she was told and listened, anything to bring her closer to her mother. "Once, fresh out of school. Your mom came across me mining, Some asshole was in system popping miner's ships so she loaded up in her Thrasher, that's a Minmatar destroyer you'll be flying in a few weeks, and sat in the belt with me. At first I felt nervous, then she hailed me. though I could tell she had A LOT of chatter feeds going on, you could always hear them, the little chirps from the channels. And her music choices, oh lord her music choices, she blared stuff from before the eve gate. Quite a character your mother. Protect the weak, kill those who dare harm the ones she cared about. No one knew she was sick you know... not till you. Not till she disappeared and all we heard was she had a baby girl. Listen Darius, I don't hate you.. contrary to what you might think. You make me miss your mother. You've got huge boots to fill and I don't think you can do it. Half my crew knows your mom, and they keep holding their breath waiting for you to be just as amazing." The woman finished her story before paging for someone to bring her a folder of applications for other pilots as well.

Mara looked at the woman, standing slowly to brush her hair behind her ears "Frankly ma'am... I'm not my mama, I don't even know my mom. So if you guys are all waiting for me to be her, cut it out. I'm me its all I'll ever be and frankly I don't wanna fill her boots, Follow her steps maybe, but I'd rather fill my own boots" she said nodding before she left the office. The older woman just shook her head and laughed as the girl left "Like Mother like daughter. little spit fire"