Total Betrayal (Deep Space Endeavor) (3 page)

             
"I don't know, Jess," Nina replied, suddenly regaining some of her cheer. "But there is one really great thing that happened while you were gone."

             
What could this news possibly be to make Nina go from angry and regretful to cheerful in seconds? Maybe she and Serge are.... No, let me just ask.
"What, what could possibly take the sting out of everything you just told me?" he asked, hoping to finally hear some good news to ease all of the bad.

             
"This is gonna be hard for you at first, but I promise it will be the best thing that has ever happened to you." Nina continued. He could see the light returning to Ariel's eyes as her smile nearly encompassed them and his curiosity grew.

______

              Josiah, Kimi and Collin came up alongside Manny and Jason while they watched the scene unfolding in the conference room. Raina and Lana were still anxiously waiting and Josiah couldn't help but notice how much like Nina Lana looked. The rest of
Endeavor's
crew came over to them along with Admiral Sonnadall, but all eyes were on Bessa. No one on Polisia had ever seen an alien that wasn't trying to kill them. Collin's family wasn't happy with him, but he knew they only needed to get to know Bessa and then they would love her as much as he did.

             
"What's going on in there?" Josiah asked Manny.

             
"Jesse is finding out that everything he's worked so hard for has been destroyed and that he has lost several friends." Manny dejectedly replied. By this time, they had all been briefed on what had happened, but they knew how personally Jesse was going to take it all and how much more time he was going to need to process it. "On the bright side, he's also about to find out he has a daughter," Manny winked at Lana and she smiled ever so slightly. Kimi caught it and a look of shock crossed her face.

             
"She is Jesse's daughter?" Kimi asked as everyone else looked at Lana. "How?" She briefly wondered how this would affect their relationship before cursing her selfishness and suppressing the thought.

             
"It's a long story that Jesse will have to tell you after he's been told." Jason replied. "It's not our story to tell." As he finished, Raina began to introduce Lana to all of the newcomers. She paused when they got to Bessa.

             
"You are really beautiful," Lana said in an awestruck whisper as she looked at Bessa's light purple, almost lavender sparkling skin. "Do you mind if I ask what species you are?"

             
Bessa's face lit up. "I am from a planet called Qualoosh and that is also what my people are called. You look very much like your father." She smiled as she got ready to continue. "You're father saved my life on a planet called Binwar and then he and Suzy brought me to
Endeavor
and allowed me to become part of the crew."

             
"And we're all so glad he did," Josiah added. "Especially Collin, he liked her so much, he married her. They all chuckled, but he could see that Collin was deeply relieved that at least some people were reaching out to Bessa. It would take some time for his family to come around, and he knew that would hurt her.

             
"So your people, do they like humans?" Raina shyly asked.

             
"Yes, we do; we are one of four races currently allied with the humans of the Lawless Sector. There are also five or six more species in Hyperian and Federation space that are also friends of humans. Unfortunately, the other fifteen or sixteen species of our galaxy hate humanity as much as this group that calls themselves the Syndicate."

             
Lana hugged Bessa and added, "Well, I'm glad you're our friend. I don't know Collin yet, but I'm happy for him, too." Bessa returned the embrace and Kimi could almost see a tear in her eye.

             
"Lana,” Kimi began, “I'm Kimiko." She shook her hand and introduced her to Josiah, Collin, Reece, Xanu, Tanna and the Admiral. "There, now you've met all of us. We are all very good friends of your dad."

             
"Kimi's actually dating him," Reece added with a wink. He could tell by the expressions on Jason and Manny's faces that this was indeed big news. "Sorry, was I not supposed to say anything?" An elbow to the gut from Kimi told him he probably shouldn't have.

             
"So you know my dad, right Kimiko? Can you tell me what he's like?" Lana's question stopped the conversation as they all began to reflect sadly that this young lady had never met her father and he was sitting in the conference room just out of her reach. "Aunt Ariel tells me I'm a really good pilot; I hope he's proud of me."

             
"Good pilot?" Collin laughed, “Are you sure Jesse's your dad?"

             
"Collin," Bessa chided, not understanding the humor. "What a terrible thing to say to the girl. Of course she is sure."

             
"Bessa, Collin was only joking. You know, irony, because Jesse is such a terrible pilot." Josiah laughed. They all had a good laugh and Bessa was a little embarrassed by her overreaction.

             
Kimi took Lana's hand and began to tell her about her father. "I can tell you that your father is courageous and he is kind. He is noble, strong and smart. He would do anything for the people he loves and as soon as he lays eyes on you, you will be the one he loves most. He loves soccer and he's a great warrior. There is so much we could tell you, Lana, but it might be better if you just got to know him."

             
"Two to one he takes off with her for like a week to get to know her, even with everything else that's going on." Collin surmised.

             
"I wouldn't bet against it," Josiah added.

             
"Nor I," Kimi agreed. "He will love you more than anything, Lana," she added as she hugged the apprehensive teen.

             
By this time, Admiral Collingsworth had made his way over and began talking to Admiral Sonnadall. The two men immediately hit it off and spent the next fifteen minutes trading war stories. Kimi's family, Collin's family and Josiah's family had all come over to join them and Collin was relieved to see his sister Sarah strike up a conversation with Bessa. Several more of their friends joined them, hoping to see Jesse and Suzy when they were finally finished in the conference room.

______

              "She's my
what
?" Jesse shouted, thinking his family was playing a prank on him, although he couldn't understand the timing of it.

             
"Lana Evans is your daughter, Jess," Ariel replied. "Trust me, we're not making this up.”

             
"I think they're serious," Suzy added as she looked out the window at the gathering crowd of friends. "She looks just like Nina." Jesse looked out the window and for a moment thought he was looking at a teenage Nina again. She smiled apprehensively and waved and he gave a confused wave back.

             
“Ariel, that's impossible." he started. "The only person I have ever been with in this galaxy is Rebecca, and she never had a child. I would have known. I've never been with anyone else in this galaxy."

             
"In this galaxy?" Ariel asked with a sly nod that said she needed details.

             
"Jess, she's your daughter." Nina added, ignoring Ariel's inquisitiveness. Just take a look at this vid from her mother and it will explain everything."

             
"No, Nina, I never cheated on Rebecca, never."

             
"We know, Jess, just watch it, please." Ariel gently placed her hand on her cousin's arm and pleaded with her eyes. He finally relented and Nina played the vid. When it was over, Jesse just hung his head. "Jess, are you alright? Say something." Ariel knew what was coming and she felt bad for her cousin.

             
"I have a daughter and I never knew about her. Look at how beautiful she is. She must hate me."

             
"Of course she doesn't hate you, why would you say that, Jess?" Suzy asked.

             
"Just look at her, Suzy, I've missed her whole life. I've never been there for her. Her mother died and I was in another galaxy, what kind of father am I?" The emotional turmoil of this mixed with all of the bad news was almost too much for hm.

             
"You're gonna be the best kind, Jess." Nina comforted. "This is not your fault, there was no way you could have known. Terri committed a crime. She took your samples without your knowledge. She would have never even come to us if she hadn't gotten sick, but I'm glad she did. Lana is great, she gives us hope for the future of our family. I can't wait for you to get to know her. Did you know she's an excellent soccer player, just like her dad?"

             
"What am I gonna say to her? What if she hates me for not being there? What if she doesn't love me? What if..."

             
“Jesse, I've never seen you afraid before. I know you were concerned when you had to fight Garrinoras, but I've never seen you afraid." Suzy chided. "She's a really scary sixteen year old girl, looks like we've found the great Jesse Marcos’ weakness. Go ahead," she encouraged. "You're never going to know what she's thinking until you go talk to her."

             
"Who's Garrinoras?" Ariel asked, confusion evident on her face.

             
"He's a seven foot tall Zinnebailan that Jesse had to fight in a death match."

             
"A what?"

             
"Guys, can we talk about that later. I'm freaking out here, this isn't easy for me. Look at her, she's perfect and I missed everything. I missed her first tooth, her first steps, her first words, her first birthday, her first day of school, all of it."

             
"Well, why don't you go meet her before you miss anymore," Nina encouraged. Serge nodded his agreement and they all stood to go greet the small crowd gathered outside the conference room, all of them except Jesse.

             
"I don't know if I can do this," he started.

             
"Yes, you can," Suzy replied as she helped him out of the chair. "You are the strongest, bravest man I have ever known, you can do this."

             
"Come on, Jess, she's perfect. I promise, you're never gonna want to leave her side." Ariel gave him a little shove and he finally started walking out of the room. He could see Lana's eyes widen as he approached and he saw the same apprehension he felt, the same fears he had voiced as he slowly made his way over to the daughter he never knew he had.

             
He slowly held his hand out and said, "Hi, Lana, I'm Jesse." Without answering, she embraced him, buried her head in his chest and began to cry. "Hey, it's okay," He didn't know what to say or do, so he just held his daughter for the first time in stunned, awkward, beautiful silence.

             
Suzy had moved on to begin greeting all of the friends she hadn't yet seen. Nina, Serge and Ariel immediately greeted the rest of
Endeavor
's crew, including the new crew members and Admiral Sonnadall. They all moved off a little ways to give Jesse and Lana some time to themselves. Reece stealthily appeared by Suzy's side asking about Ariel. She just smiled as she continued greeting Manny, Jason, Raina and everyone else.

             
After a few minutes of just holding her dad, Lana finally looked up, wiped her tear stained face and looked at her father. "I'm sorry; I've waited my whole life to do that." She smiled shyly and Jesse instantly experienced a father's love. He had a daughter, and maybe he missed a lot, but he wasn't gonna miss anymore of this girl's life.

             
"Lana, I'm sorry..."

             
"It's not your fault, da...um Jess...What do I call you?"

             
"You can call me whatever you are most comfortable with."

             
"I think I'm gonna go with dad. I've always wanted to call someone dad."

             
"That's perfect, Lana." He hugged his daughter again and could see all of his friends smiling, knowing that at least one good thing came out of the last year. "So, your Aunt Ariel tells me you are quite the soccer player, did you know that was my favorite game?"

              "Yes, I did," she smiled. "I sort of, um, history stalked you once I found out you were my father. I wanted to learn everything I could about you, and there was a lot, because you’re pretty well known."

             
"History stalked, huh?" He laughed. "I'm afraid you have me at a disadvantage, then, because I don't know very much at all about you, but I can't wait to learn." She smiled again and slid her arm in his as they began to walk.