Title: Free
Author: YukiVampyra
Fandom: The Last Remnant
Pairing: Emma Honeywell/Marina Sykes
Rating: G
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters or places in The Last Remnant.
Summary: Marina's thoughts during Rush and Emma's visit to the Namura Mines during mid-Disc 1. Light spoilers.

-------

Marina Sykes was conflicted.

She had heard a commotion outside her little haven in the Namura Mines and went to investigate, only to find her son and none other than Emma Honeywell fighting the Remnant guard. Now she was sitting and drinking tea with the both of them, trying to keep herself in check.

It had been a long time since she had seen Emma. Part of her would say too long, but Marina did not like to dwell on that part of her. She was a married woman with two wonderful children. She was not the same young researcher who had fallen into bed with the heir to the Honeywell line and soon-to-be-General.

So she kept her gaze averted. Looking at her son as he explained why they had come, but mostly down at her tea, stirring it listlessly. The blonde General must have sensed her apprehension and reticence to speak because soon after Rush began speaking, Emma mentioned going outside for some 'fresh air.' It would have been an odd statement coming from anyone else. But Marina knew her, and… Let's not go down that road.

Marina refocused on Rush, listening intently to him describe everything about what happened to Irina and John and the tablet. Marina hollowly told him everything. Everything about her being the descendant of Marion Marshall. About how Irina had her power. But her thoughts kept straying back to Emma and how much she had missed the taller woman. Don't go there, Marina. She chided herself silently, sipping her tea.

Marina knew what she had to do to help stop a war of Remnants. To save her daughter. She knew Emma wouldn't like it, and neither would Rush. But Emma wasn't her lover anymore, no matter how many cold, lonely nights Marina spent in this cave wishing she could go back to a time before marriage and deadly political games. She wanted to feel free again.