Chapter 15

Extract from the journal of Faith Moonstone

        I believe Hope is right. Right about Sam. Something is...different. Something is wrong, I mean other than the fact that he should be dead.

        I didn’t notice it before. No, didn’t register it before. The signs have been there since my return to Quartz Minor. He was cold, not only in touch, but also in manner, like he had forgotten or did not know who he is �" no, who he was. The connection we had once shared is no longer there. He also did not show any concern for Hope than when I told him that she had told me that he was an imposter.

        Hope is right. Now which type of droid or shape-changer?

        I am leaning toward a shape-changer because a droid would have had access to any material on the space net to make the impression real. A shape-changer would not. A shape-changer also knows how to act like anything that has emotions. A droid does not. But I am not going to worry about that now.

        No. First I am going to help Hope get better. She hasn’t woke up yet. There has also been no change in her condition as of yet.

        Darmacus hopes that the parasite might be able to help, if he and the Libra scientists study it. They have not turned up anything yet.

        I will not leave ,y daughter’s bedside until she is awake or pronounced dead. I am her mother and I will look after her.

        Alpha 20-12-4 asked me today, why I am doing this. Looking after my daughter.  I explained that it hurt me to see my child hurting and that by helping her I am not only protecting my bloodline I am also protecting the one person I love most in the universe. I told her it is my mother’s instincts.

        She seemed to understand that. I in turn asked her why she needed me to explain that.

        She said “I am a clone, where the individuals in the group are one in the same. None of my kind have sexually reproduced for 3,000 generations, so feel no such instincts.” I nodded to show my understanding.

        We both hope that Hope is okay and will awaken ver soon. Hope and I have a lot of catching up to do.