If I could

I would try to shield your innocence from time

But the part of life I gave you isn't mine

I've watched you grow

So I could let you go

If I live

In a time and place where you don't want to be

You don't have to walk along this road with me

My yesterday

Won't have to be your way

If I knew

I would try to change the world I brought to you to

And there isn't very much that I can do

But I would

If I could

Celine Dion - “If I Could”

“...I never wanted this for you...either of you.”

Nassat gripped the hands of his children, afraid to let go. “I will do everything in my power to keep you both safe. The Prime Minister and Field Marshal each owe me a debt, and until now I had never presumed to trade on that...but to protect my children I will make an exception.”

The three of them rode in the back of the vehicle Tango was piloting, as they headed for the Induction Center. In fact, it was a structure used for several purposes; meetings, artistic exhibits, to conduct business or perhaps to enjoy an evening’s entertainment. They had suspended all those functions, turning it over to the government to be the first step of many for those reporting for service. Nassat had insisted on escorting them himself, vowing to end this nonsense once and for all. He now wore his old General’s uniform (he’d considered donning the Field Marshal regalia he had once been entitled to, but Tango persuaded him to reconsider, not wanting to ruffle Hélène’s feathers), hoping to use his influence to nip their conscriptions in the bud.

Taichist and Chechla shared a look, before turning back to face him. There were times he wondered if the twins could somehow read each other’s thoughts, the pair were so in sync.

“Father, we have been discussing this, Chechla and I, and while we understand your concerns, we feel you interceding on our behalf would be…” His son struggled for words, as his sister picked up the thread.

“...it would not be fair to those who have no one with position to speak for them,” she finished. “Neither of us planned for this or wished for it...but nor it would be proper to shirk our duty.”

“Duty?” Nassat scoffed. “Oh, I know all about Duty,” he said. “Duty is the word Leandra would trot out to trick me into doing her bidding. Duty...is what killed your mother.” There. He’d said what had been haunting him, ever since receiving the news.

The twins seemed to flush with embarrassment. “We know how much losing her hurt you, Father,” Taichist acknowledged, “but had they had not drafted you, where would the Tetrarchy be now?”

The question caught him off guard, but before he could respond another voice chimed in. “Up shit creek without a paddle,” Tango answered from the other compartment.

Chechla smiled at that while Nassat glowered at the human. “If this threat is even a fraction as dangerous as they have informed us, then will they not need all of us to protect our homes?” she finished.

“There are more than enough others who have not given as much as this family has...or paid as heavy a price,” he fired back...before bowing his head in defeat.

“...I fear for you both,” he whispered.

The vehicle pulled up to the entrance of the facility, as Tango gave out a low whistle. Hundreds, thousands of individuals from all four races of the Tetrarchy were streaming in from every direction, as those in uniform did their best to direct traffic. A human and Saurotaur pair waved the vehicle to a halt. Nassat lowered the window as they approached.

“No vehicles past this point,” the human ordered, as Tango smirked at them.

“Tell him that,” she grinned, jerking her head to indicate Nassat in the rear compartment.

They turned their attention to the trio, as the Saurotaur’s eyes went wide. She snapped to attention and saluted, as Nassat returned the gesture.

“General Nassat,” the human said a moment later, now recognizing him. “They told us to expect you. If you will pull forward, we will show you where you may park, and guide each of you to your destination.”

“...Thank you,” he said after a moment, as he nodded to Tango. Following the pair’s instructions, they soon disembarked while they wrangled another Saurotaur and an Ophipteran to act as escorts. The human stood off to the side, while the family said their goodbyes.

“Be safe, both of you,” Nassat whispered, as he hugged them close. “And remember that no matter how much they may shout at you; they wish for you to succeed.”

“We love you, Father,” Chechla said in return, sniffing back tears of her own as her brother hugged her.

“Call when you can,” their father insisted, even as Taichist bobbed his head in reply.

“We will,” he promised, giving Nassat’s hand one last squeeze before the twins picked up their meager belongings and followed their guide. They turned and gave one final wave...before disappearing.

“Sir...they have ordered us to bring you and your aide to the Command Center,” the human informed him, but Nassat hadn’t heard a thing he’d said. His focus remained on the last place he’d seen his children, prior to being taken from him.

Tango cleared her throat. “Boss...they’re expecting us,” she nudged.

Nassat nodded, following their own escort as she led them to a suite of offices. They bypassed the lines of waiting returnees as they whisked them past security until they were finally ushered into a set of chambers, far plusher than what they had seen during their brief journey. A lone human awaited them, her arms folded behind her, as their guide departed, closing the door behind her.

“Hello Nassat,” Field Marshal Fujimoto greeted him. “It’s been a long time.”

“That it has, Hélène,” he agreed, as she turned her attention to his companion.

“You’re looking well, Tango,” she continued, as the other woman shrugged.

“Clean living, I guess,” she replied, as the Marshal waved them over to a sitting area.

“Before we go any further,” she said, as she took a seat, “no, I did not go out of my way to draft your kids. They just met the qualifications we were looking for.”

“You will forgive me if I find that small comfort,” Nassat replied. “This is the last thing I wanted for them.”

“I get that, and I’m sorry,” Hélène apologized, “but we need everybody we can get our hands on. Hence the reason we’re bringing old farts like you out of retirement.”

His nostrils flared as he fought down his anger. “We can joust with one another some other time. I assume you wish to brief us?”

“We’ll get into that in a minute,” she told him, as she retrieved a pair of old-style folders and passed them over. Nassat raised an eyebrow at the anachronism, while Tango opened hers and began to read.

“Quick and dirty version...Nassat, I’m sending you to command the blockade over Θ18. The details are in your packet. But to put it bluntly; nothing goes in, nothing goes out. Should anyone disobey that command, you are to stop them by any means necessary...up to and including the use of deadly force.”

He bristled at the order. “And Leandra has agreed to this?”

“She has,” Hélène nodded. “Trust me, she’s no happier about it than you are...but she’s on board.”

“I wish to state for the record,” he continued, “that I am doing this only under protest.”

“So noted,” the Field Marshal replied, without batting an eye. “Anything else?”

“Just one thing...once they complete their training, I want my children to be sent to the most distant, dullest, safest post you can find.”

The human regarded him for a moment before shaking her head. “I’m sorry Nassat, but I can’t do that.”

“You can,” he fired back, “and I believe my family has earned it.”

Hélène sighed, rising to her feet as she went to fix herself a drink. “Look...word gets out I pulled those sorts of strings, then our problems get a whole lot bigger.” She took a sip of her drink and shrugged. “Some things haven’t changed, I’m afraid. You’re as famous as you’ve always been, and they’ll be watching you...you and your children. If I send them to East Podunk to sit this out, they’ll be demanding both our heads...and I can’t afford the distraction.”

Nassat’s mood didn’t improve one iota, but he nodded. “Then send them to me,” he said at last. “Let them say what they want. Spin it however you like...but I will make sure I protect my children. If that is a problem, then we have a problem.” His gaze didn’t waver a centimeter, as he held his ground.

“...Fine,” she said through gritted teeth. “I can play up the Humanitarian angle, or something.”

“Very well,” he said, somewhat mollified. “When Tango and I arrive on station…”

“...I’m afraid you must do without her services,” she interrupted him, “at least for the near future. I have a special assignment for her.”

“...I’m not going to like this, am I?” Tango snapped.

“I don’t care,” Hélène retorted. “First thing I want you to do?” she said, as a smirk emerged on her face.

“...I need you to get the band back together.”