She’s an old lady, hair completely silver, smile lines at the corners of her eyes. She’s gazing straight down the camera, and it feels like she’s gazing straight at each of us.
“Greetings, my friends,” she says, and though some of the edge has come off her voice over the course of her lifetime, it’s still unmistakably Zila Madran. “This message is due to be delivered one year after the events for which I spent my life preparing. I hope with all my heart that you are all present to receive it. I have accepted that while I know many things, this will forever remain a mystery to me. I was once told by my Alpha that some moments require faith. Know that I have faith in you.
“Aurora, I hope you are well. This message is for you, in particular. It took me some years to realize that in my new timeline, your mother and your sister would still be very much alive and well, and mourning your loss. I know this has been a source of great sadness to you, and so I considered the options available, remembering always that the avoidance of paradox in the timeline was of the utmost importance.”
Auri lifts her hands to cover her mouth, her eyes bright, and Kal shifts his chair so he can quietly slip his arm around her. Scar squeezes her hand.
The footage of Zila continues.
“I spoke to your mother shortly before she died, and told her you were safe. I am sorry I could not do so sooner, but I judged the risk of paradox too great. Please know our conversation brought her great peace. I studied your sister, Callie, for some time before deciding she was capable of the levels of secrecy required, and eventually I confided the truth of your fate in her.”
Aurora is crying properly now, though I think it’s a happy cry, and the woman who brought the recording lifts her wrist unit again. With a flick, she sends a picture up to sit alongside Zila—it’s a woman who looks so, so like Aurora, though older, and she has a toddler sitting on her hip.
“This is your sister, with your niece, Jie-Lin,” Zila says.
The woman brings up another picture—now the woman who must be Callie is older, and beside her stands another woman who might be Jie-Lin, and there’s a new toddler.
“And here is her daughter,” Zila continues. “I have arranged for further pictures to be added to the collection as new generations are born, and it is my hope that this file will now be delivered by—”
The recording pauses, and we all look toward the woman with the projector. Even Saedii looks like someone whose favorite series just ended on a cliff-hanger.
“It is my hope,” says the woman, whose eyes appear a little bright, “that this message will be delivered by one of Callie’s descendants.”
“Are …” Auri chokes out the word, but she can’t get past it.
“Your great-great-great-great-great-niece,” she says softly. “My name’s Jie-Lin. It’s a family tradition.”
A noise comes out of Aurora, half sob, half laugh, and every Betraskan instinct in me knows it’s the sound of someone finding a part of their family, and she’s out of her chair like she’s teleported, and into Jie-Lin’s arms, and the two of them silently embrace as the recording begins again. I’m startled back to attention when I hear my own name.
“Finian suggested as he departed,” says Zila, “that I should place wagers on the outcomes of ‘sportsball’ events, with Magellan’s assistance. I remain unconvinced this is entirely ethical, but Nari has suggested to me that we have given much, and it is acceptable to take a little in return. Details of a bank account have been provided with these files. I have two requests, and beyond that, the money is yours to use as you see fit—it will be a considerable sum.
“My first request is that you establish a scholarship in Cat’s name. I believe in the Aurora Legion, and I would like it to be easier for others to join.
“My second request is that you find an opportunity to spend some time together—I would suggest you put Scarlett in charge of planning, as Nari and I are both confident she will pick an excellent destination for a furlough. And please think of us for a moment when you make that trip.”
Everyone’s crying now, except for Saedii, of course, who definitely has no tear ducts. She’s just nodding slowly, which I guess is her version.
“I have found my family here,” Zila says, “though I will always miss the family I left behind. I hope each of you finds such happiness, over the course of your lives.” She looks around, as if she could actually see us. And she smiles. “I wish you well, my friends.”
And just like that, the recording is over, and Zila’s gone.
But never forgotten.
“Holy cake,” Aurora sniffs, disentangling herself from Jie-Lin’s hug.
“This,” says Scarlett, “is going to be the most epic vacation in history.”
“We just got back from vacation,” I groan.
“And there’s no way I can take time off,” Tyler says.
Scarlett puts her hands on her hips. “Are you being serious right now?”
“I mean it,” Ty says, shaking his head. “There’s a whole bunch of diplomatic meetings scheduled after the unveiling, we’ve got new intakes coming in after that, and de Stoy’s rearranging the whole command structure.”
“Right,” I nod. “And we’re still short in mechaneering, I’ve gotta hel—”
“Oh Maker’s breath …” Scar heaves a dramatic sigh, looking between me and Ty. “Could you two be bigger killjoys, please.”
I shrug, helpless. “I’ve got work to do, Scar.”
“Look,” she says, leaning closer. “A vacation I organize means a pool. And a pool means me packing nothing but a swimsuit. Do the math, de Seel.”
I pause, glance to Tyler. “Yeah, okay, I’m convinced.”
“Right,” Scar scowls. “What about you, Bee-bro?”
“You know I hate it when you call me that, right?”
“You know I hate your face, right?”
“Ouch.”
Tyler glances at Saedii thoughtfully.
“Do you even own a swimsuit?”
She glowers around the room. “I am certain I could fashion one out of someone’s skin without too much difficulty.”
“Leather bikini … ,” I murmur, staring into the distance.
“… Yeah, okay,” Tyler declares. “I’m convinced.”
“Are they always like this?” Jie-Lin asks quietly.
“In time, one becomes accustomed to it,” Kal replies gravely.
Aurora just hugs her one more time, and smiles.
“Welcome to the family.”