To a brighter future?

[Wolfs Ghost]

Prospect Mall, Planet Cambridge, Cambridge System

Whistling and humming could be heard.

"God save our gracious Queen,
Long live our noble Queen,
God save The Queen.

Send her victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us:
God save The Queen.

O Lord, our God, arise,
Scatter her enemies,
And make them fall.
Confound their politics,
Frustrate their knavish tricks,
On Thee---

Erm, this was recording? Damn it. End log." -- Ship Log 041, Austin Goodman

Austin stepped off the bus and took in a deep breath of air as the wind blew in from the west. He smiled lightly to himself as he began walking towards the entrance of the bustling mall. Before stepping inside, he looked at both of his bandaged wrists, the pain was tolerable for now. After which, he stepped through the sliding glass door, partially wishing he hadn't given up his military jacket so he could put his hands in them.

It was unlike Austin to go to one of the most prominent malls on all of Cambridge, after all he wasn't a social butterfly, preferring to avoid such locations. But today was different, today he had a purpose for being here. That purpose? Getting a new jacket to replace the one he lost during his escape from being held hostage by a Corsair Smuggler. This was his only goal, to get in and get out without much else. Just enough time to catch the next bus to get back to the space port so he could take a transport to the Norfolk.

Of course, things played differently when he heard a little kid shouting, "Mommy! Mommy! I see daddy!"

He just happened to glance over to see that a little girl was pointing at him, and a few passing looked over at him as they walked by.

"That's daddy! The one with the bandaged hands!" The little girl repeated.

By this time, Austin's curiosity had set in and he slowly came to a stop, raising his eyebrow at the little girl and the crowd before looking around to see if anyone else happened to have bandages on their hands. It was a short while later that he felt a tugging at his hand, at which point he looked down to see a little girl standing next to him. It took a couple of seconds before he knelt down in front of the girl, smiling lightly and trying not to offend her.

"Love, I'm not your father." He said, still holding a smile.
"Yes you are! I saw you on the news when I was three!"

He laughed lightly, just looking up to see the girls mother walk over. He slowly got to his feet as she came to a stop in front of him. He watched as she placed her hands on her daughter's shoulders.

"I am so... so very sorry, Sir." She said lightly laughing, "Her father served in the Armed Forces, and he's been deployed for three years. Last I heard, he served on the MacDuff, when that new house's military force pushed into Tau-31 forcing the MacDuff back, he... was listed as MIA."

"I'm sorry to hear that. But she mentioned seeing her father on the news? Was he ever on the news?"

"It's been a few months since those events, I'm sure if he was alive he would try to get in contact with me, or someone he knew would if he was dead." She looked down at her daughter before looking back up at Austin, then she let out a light gasp. "I knew I recognized you from somewhere. You're the guy who saved Prime Minister George Mountbatten. That would explain why she thought you were her father."

"Yeah, that's me." He replied, slightly disgusted by the sudden change of topic on her part. "What's his name?"

"Jeremy Godwin, he's a lieutenant assigned to the fifth infantry division. Oh, and I forgot to introduce myself, I'm Maria Godwin." She replied, holding her hand out towards him.

He shook her hand and nodded lightly. "Well, Misses Godwin. I'll keep my eyes open for any information regarding your husband."

"You will?"
"Aye. All of our men and women fighting deserve to come home."

"Oh, thank you. Thank you so much." Maria ecstatically replied, stepping around her daughter and giving him a hug. Once she was done hugging him, she stepped back, wearing a concerned expression, "But... how do you plan on getting in contact with me?"

"I work for the Armed Forces, I'll be able to contact you, don't worry." He smiled lightly, "I need to be going, as well. Came here to get something, and I don't want to be late for my bus." He said kneeling down and gently patting the little girl on her shoulder. "I'll bring your father home."

"Thank you." Maria said, her daughter giggling lightly as Austin stood up.

"You're welcome." He replied, turning away from the mother and daughter and started on his way again.

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