I was going to just leave it there, but then halfway through writing the previous chapter, I decided that I wanted to hear a little from Tristan, so I added this epilogue. I cried whilst writing this. But then I do cry a lot. Please review and tell me whether you think my tears were justified or not! Or just review anyway!

And a massive thank you to Anni who reviewed the last chapter! Lobe you Anni! *Huggles*!

xxx

Epilogue

I trudge up the dark, dank winding staircase of the flats, wrinkling my nose at the smell. The lift is broken again, and I sigh; we really ought to move. The one advantage of the estate is that no one asks questions; the problem is that it isn't very easy to escape from the twentieth floor, even for a Garde. Especially one who hasn't got her legacies yet. The orange plastic bags bang against my legs and I scowl, though my scowl is lightened when I remember what I've bought for Katey. Her favourite crisps. I grin, picturing her smile. Junk food is a rare treat, but she's been training hard recently. On the rare occasions we have crisps, she always chooses the Thai Sweet Chilli Sensations. We have competitions; we divide the bag and eat our half, and see who can last the longest with getting a drink. She always wins. Plus, we can have a mini celebration; I've decided that we're moving tomorrow. Anything to get out of this dump. And plus, it's the best idea to keep moving. After all, Katey is next on the Mogadorians list. I remember the day when the true gravity of the situation hit me. It was in the middle of her Year Five assembly; she was proudly delivering a speech about how milk was made when she began to scream. I immediately darted from my seat, running over to her, shielding her from curious eyes as she writhed on the floor, her hands clutched to her ankle from which a burning bright light emitted. I took her home at once and the next day we were gone.

I can vividly remember my fear and panic, partially because it has lived with me every day for the last four years. My Katey, my little Katey is next. Her parents died on Lorien, and I am, the closest thing she has to a father, and I intend to act like one. I never found love on Lorien, never had a daughter, but Katey makes up for that; every time I see her warm, generous smile it makes me glow with pride, because she's my girl. I helped her grow up, trained her to defend herself, because I knew we might not have much time before they found One. And I knew that Katey was next.

"Mr Jones?"

I blink, roused from my reverie. "Yes Mrs..." I struggle to remember our old neighbours name, "Cropley?"

"I have a complaint.

I frown. "A complaint?

"Yes. It's your girl up there. I don't know what she was doing, but she was making an awful lot of noise about ten minutes ago. Right inconsiderate of her, especially as my flats straight below yours."

I stare at her, hardly able to comprehend what I'm hearing. My brain feels like it's trying to work through an icy fog. "...Noise?"

"Noise. All banging and shouting- I ask you! What are young people coming too these days- Mr Jones?"

But I'm already gone, dropping the bags where I stood and sprinting as fast as I can up the stairs to the flat. I can hear her voice echoing after me- "Mr Jones? What's wrong?"- but I ignore her. Katey. Kateykateykatey-

The door has been blasted off its hinges. I swiftly pull the blade from the sheath in my boot, silently creeping through the flat. It's wrecked; furniture strewn everywhere, glass smashed. Katey's bedroom door is ajar. Slowly I push it open and feel my heart stop in my chest. My breathing constricts.

"No..." I managed to groan, dropping to my knees next to her, ignoring the body of the Mogadorian nearby. "No..."

I gently shift her so she's lying across my lap, cradling her in my arms like I did when she was younger and woke screaming from dreams of our planets death.

"Katey...Kate...Please..."

I rock her, tears rolling down my face, stroking her hair. "Wake up Kate...please wake up, I'm begging you..."

It's no use. I know she won't wake. They've slit her throat and the blood is still flowing, soaking into her white top.

"Please Kate...Please..."

She deserves better to be lying here than with the body of a Mogadorian. One of her killers. I freeze.

The body of a Mogadorian. But Mogadorians don't leave bodies. The realisation hits me at the same time as the fist. I jerk forwards, sheltering Katey with my own body, not caring she won't feel any pain. I grab the knife from the floor and stab wildly backwards, and am rewarded by a howl of pain and a soft whoosh of dust. The knife falls from my hands as I survey the room, noticing more dust staining the carpet.

That's my girl. She gave as good as she'd got.

That's when I notice the computer sitting on the desk. Slowly I shift Katey off my lap, getting to my feet, ignoring the blood staining my jacket. The window open on the screen is a blog. I stare at the page

Posted by Two at 21.34, 15th July, 2007:

Post Deleted.

"Oh Katey...You stupid, stupid girl..." I can't stop staring at the screen. The post below catches my eyes.

Posted by Anonymous at 21.40, 15th July, 2007:

Post Deleted.

Someone replied. I don't know what Katey put, but I can guess, near enough. And it was enough to alert the Mogadorians to her exact position. But it was enough to prove to the others that she is still fighting. Was still fighting. The fight for us is over.

No. I'm wrong.

My fight is only just beginning.

"Time to go Kate."

I pack her stuff in her rucksack quickly, all her little trinkets she loved. Carefully I wrap her body in a soft blue blanket, ignoring the blood. I grab my own bag, slinging it over my shoulder along with hers and gently pick her up. I take the fire exit, managing to reach the car without anyone seeing. I carefully lay her on the floor in the back and begin to drive. It takes seven hours to reach the place, but it's worth it. She loved it here. It's almost 5 in the morning and no one sees me as I carry her body along the footpath, only halting when I reach a point near the cliff edge. Here I set her down and begin to dig. It takes a while, but not as long as it would take for a human, and soon I have a deep hole. The earth smells of salt. I peel back the blanket and take one last look at her face and gently close her eyes. She looks so peaceful, like she's asleep, her lips curved up slightly at the corners, like she's smiling at me.

"Goodbye Kate." I kiss her forehead and reach into her rucksack, pulling out a battered teddy. She used to love him when she was younger and couldn't sleep without him. As she got older, she pretended she only kept him for the memories, but when I'd check on her at night, she'd be clutching him tightly. Carefully, I slide him in to her arms.

"You never could sleep without Mr Ted, could you?"

Tears are falling down my face again as I lower her into the hole I've dug. The soft thud she makes as she hits the ground it the worst sound I've ever heard, but I managed to fill in the hole, despite the broken sobs shaking my body.

I'm her Cêpan. And I've failed her. There is not greater torture to me than that. I should have died, not her. But now there's nothing I can do for her.

As I cover her grave in wild heather, a sudden thought makes me smile for a second. I can't help her but I can help the others. It's what she would want me to do.

Selecting a slab of granite, I pull out my blade. It takes a little while to engrave it, even with the Lorien metal, but I eventually managed, and leave it placed on her head, like a pillow.

Far from home, but never far from my heart.

Now you are free to sail through the stars you always dreamed of.

Standing up, I stretch, smiling at the view, at the red and gold rays of sunrise streaking the sky. She always did love it here in Cornwall. And now she can stay here forever. No more running, no more fear. Katey is at rest, here with the roar of the sea and the screech of the gulls and the small of salt in the air. Picking up the bags I take one last look at her grave before heading back to the car. It's time to find the others.