Author's note: This story belongs to me - please do not reproduce without my permission or claim it as your own work. Constructive feedback is always appreciated. :D

Ryder Ranch, Montana Territories, United Earth – 4048

The summer sun beat down on the vast meadows that surrounded the modest cottage. The light was blinding and uncomfortable, forcing the eyes to seek shade and darkness. A few horses were in the field, stamping nervously and shaking their manes. There was a tension in the air that made it hard to breathe – even the normally chirping birds were silent.

“EVELYN!! CARA!! Where are you!?” Ben Ryder shouted as he tumbled out of his hovercraft, his voice piercing the silence. He sprinted toward the cottage, the sound of his heartbeat pounding fast in his ears.

His eyes frantically darted through the wreckage that used to be his home. His hands soon became bloodied and raw from pulling away the debris that blocked the front door. He could smell smoke and blood, and he felt strangled - filled with fear for his family, knowing that Brekkens rarely left anyone alive. I should have taken them with me. I should have sent them to the Mars colonies. I should have –

“Oh no…Evie…” He pushed away the splintered dining room table that was between them and ran to his wife’s broken body. He held his breath, pressing his fingers to the side of her neck.

No movement. No pulse. Nothing.

Oh, God, no…Not Evelyn… He gathered her body in his arms, sobbing quietly on the floor. Brushing her blood-soaked hair from her face, he rocked back and forth, kissing the cold, pale face of his dead love over and over. His tears mingled with the her blood, dripping down to the dark pool on the ground.

“Daddy?”

Ben’s head shot up at the sound of that frightened, little voice that was so familiar to him. “Cara? Honey, where are you? It’s Daddy.” He gently placed Evelyn back down on the floor, cupping her cheek in a tender gesture before getting up and stumbling towards the voice.

“Daddy!” A little girl stuck her head out of one of the kitchen cabinets. Ben ran over to her as quickly as he could and picked her up in his arms, holding her tightly. He saw the tears on her face, her unkempt hair, and the small cuts on her arms and legs. His heart squeezed in pain.

“Are you okay, Cara?” He set her down on one of the undisturbed countertops, so he could check her for any wounds. As usual, he was struck by how much she looked like Evelyn. The same golden hair, bright blue-green eyes, pale skin…Oh, Evie…I don’t know if I can do this alone…I’m not that strong…you were the best part of me.

“Daddy…Where’s Mommy? Is she…dead?” Tears welled up in those painfully familiar eyes as they looked up at Ben.

Ben couldn’t bring himself to answer. He looked away, picking her up in his arms. He carried her out of the house toward his hovercraft, carefully angling himself so she would not be able to see her mother’s body as they left. “We’re going to go somewhere safe, baby,” he said, trying to reassure her, “Don’t worry. Daddy’s got you, my brave little girl.”