I was eight years old when it happened.

My Dad and other members of the Crow’s Nest perished during their last joint mission on board of La Niña.

It was a tragedy that struck deep in the heart of the vella society.

Not only for the families involved but to everyone on board of the three ships. The blow was so hard that it marked an end to a long history of successful joint operations between the vellas.

Before that fateful mission, it was a common thing for people from one Caravel sail to another one. In an exchange of help, persons or to trade resources. One ship helping and even mingling with the affairs of another. But, after that unforgettable day, our Columbus decided never to do anything like that again.

The only thing left from the crows after that fateful rescue operation were their magnetic cables. Made to endure and resist extremely high temperatures they stood where the bodies should be. Unfortunately, people are not made of carbon nanomachines. All those lives were lost in a sudden burst of hot plasma, being instantly vaporized. The plasma eruption happened dangerously close to the hull and that damaged a big portion of the ship’s keel.

That vella almost sank in space.

Dad was the appointed leader of the joint rescue team. He was the one responsible for every Crow’s operations inside and outside the Immaculate. Because of that, some deluded people pointed their fingers to him. Blaming the crows for the accident. And accusing my father of lack of competence in leading the mission.

But dad had an impeccable record. He saved more lives than anyone can account.

That shut up those lousy mouths and that false accusation was forgotten.

Dad is still considered a true hero to the end.

Yes, I am the daughter of the most famous person in the recent history of the vellas.

"The Dart."

That was the name they gave him.

An affectionate way for the crows to call my dad: their appointed leader.

Uncle Stephen told me that this nickname began as an inside joke for the rescue team. But my dad made that name his way of life. He incorporated that nickname and transformed it into something special. In the end, the joke ended up becoming a synonym for precision, hard work, and sharpness.

A symbol of his dedication in saving lives.

His teammates used to say that my Daddy was always precise when analyzing a mission. Devising the best plan and the most efficient course of action. Saving resources. Creating new ways to improve the vigilance and reach of the Nest. Acting fast and sharp during any rescue attempt.

Uncle Stephen told me all his stories. He never was my real uncle, but he was the former second in command, his best men and a true friend. Used to pop up at home most of the time and was the first person invited to any of the family events.

A big blond man made of a pure heart. He is so muscled and with that prominent chin and nose that he looks like an ancient Greek god. It was easy for me to imagine a laurel wreath above his head. But besides all that strength you can’t find someone more tender or caring in the entire ship. No wonder I started to call him uncle right when we met and he treats me like I am his real niece since then.

One night, after dinner he told us about the name’s origin. He flattered my father so much when he told about that history that dad felt uncomfortable. We all laughed together when we saw the famous Dart blushing.

Dad was the best of them all, he saved hundreds of lives, being loved by almost everyone. To the Immaculate rescue team, Dad was their superstar: the legendary crowman.

The hero of the Caravels.

To me, he was a lot more than a hero.

He was my light, my reason to smile.

Without him, everything began to fall apart.

Everybody says that we don’t feel a thing when hot plasma hit our bodies. I want to believe that was the case for my daddy.

Crank me, and those damn memories! Now I can’t control the tears and they won’t stop falling again! And to make me feel even worse, I can’t avoid the group hug.

All those guys around me make me feel suffocated. Uneasy by that display of pity. If it were not enough to feel sad, now I feel utterly uneasy.

I need to get out of here and fast. But first, I need to be sure that we all are on the same page.

“I screwed up...I let him down…” I try not to sob when I talk with them. Making a big effort to end the invasion of my personal space, without hurting anyone's feelings.

Belle is now in front of me. The way that she is staring at me with those deep blue eyes makes me feel naked as if she could read my thoughts. Knowing me since my first EVO period, she knows how much my mother hates that I do mag climbing and mag racing. She knows I am again in trouble.

Being a scientist, my mother never had a will for adventures. She is always so pragmatic, cold and almost robotic to allow herself to defy the laws of nature that she keeps trying to understand and bend to her will. My mother is too logical to enjoy small pleasures in life.

That makes me wonder what my father saw in a woman like her.

But my dad, he was The Crowman. The amazing "The Dart". His job led him to always defy his own limits. A man that was able to make a fragile eight years old girl fell like a superhero. He used to put me in his arms and we soared in the false sky of the C patch or the main Dome capital. Our mag cable holding us and the wind blowing in our faces. I kept giggling and asking him to go higher and faster.

Now all I have left from him are what he taught me and memories of better days.

“Why didn't you tell us what was happening?” Belle asks with a soft voice, interrupting my trip down the memory lane again.

“I don’t know Bel…” I am being honest. I don’t know what happened to me. Was it the sorrow, the loneliness, the will to do something stupid?

"You are not alone Lau. Think about it, ok? We all care about you." how can she treat me so well after all I have done? I will never understand Bel.

"I know, and you all keep giving me proof of that. All the time no matter what troubles I cause for you.” I am sure Hei gave me a look as if he agreed with me on that one. “ I wish I could be worth all that care. But I am a mess. Today, today of all days I lost my total sense of reality."

Hei looks as if he is about to say something but then he keeps quiet and let Belle continue.

"We will help you dear, and I am not talking only about the little adventure that you dragged us all in."

They all nod.  Crank me, I don't deserve them in my life! They are too good for someone like me. 

Yet, I keep pushing them into the abyss with me.

"You need to help me get them back. I need to fix this" I say.

They all get close to me but this time I can contain the tears, I will make everything right.

To my surprise, even Todd is treating me well.

They are trying to calm me, while I struggle to seem less fragile. Unable to stop trembling in another invasive group hug.

I explain how I wanted to pretend that my dad was with me today. I want to tell them how I felt when he put me on his shoulders in his backpack. How we soared the dome sky together making me feel like a real superhero. About the wonderful sensation of the wind stretching my hair and caressing my nose. While I giggled, holding the neck of the man I admired more than anything. But the words doesn’t come. They are here in my mind, clear as crystal, but It is like my mouth can’t receive the brain impulses needed to move.

Hei is the one to break all that sentimentalism.

“Well, it seems we are all set. After tonight or we all will be expelled from the EVO institute and join Todd's bunch." He smirks when he says that, "Or we will have something exciting to tell our grandsons. After hours, west wall. Let’s not be late. Eleven hundred hours is the best time for us to meet.”

I can't stop but feel surprised how Hei took care of everything  for me.

We all agree to the meeting and we part ways. Todd tells me he will bring the spare equipment and to trust him.

Belle decides to take me to junction C where I will take a tunnel Squid back home. We all need to make preparations for the invasion later at night.

"By the way, I am certain that Todd is in love with you"

What she just said makes my world collapse again...

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