Lumina slowly walked along the main corridor of N.A.S.A.'s base, Soal guiding her. Surprisingly, the corridor was empty, but it was perfect for the conversation Soal started with Lumina.

"Let's brush the anger aside for one moment Lumina and talk about the question I'd asked you earlier."

"About the lies?" The muscles in Lumina's forearm tensed, the handcuffs around her wrists tightening. "Why bother? I don't know who to trust anymore. Why should I assume that their lying and you're not?"

"Would I do this If I was lying?" Quickly, Soal removed the handcuffs from Lumina's wrists and tugged her into a janitor's storage closet, jamming a broom handle into the doorknob after sealing the door.

"What in the -" Soal's hand wrapped around Lumina's mouth. Soal placed a finger to her lips, gesturing for silence.

Rushed footsteps hurried down the hall. Soal pulled her Holo from her pocket and showed Lumina a live camera feed of what was going on outside.

"That can't be!" Lumina exclaimed, shocked.

There was a woman in jeans and a black tee. Her eyes were a dark brown, her hair a light auburn. Her facial features, although slightly wrinkled from age, mirrored Lumina's looks.

"Soal Myda Si?" Soal asked. "Yes."

Lumina gasped. "So... you... uh..."

"I'm not the one you're looking for. Your mom is."

"So, I've been deceived. Yet again." Lumina shoved her face into her open palms, fed up with how many times she's been lied to.

After a long minute, Lumina removed her hands from her face. "So why were you acting as the one who ran the place?"

"To mess with you," Soal replied, now removing her jacket and the tissues from her shoulders. "I even stuffed tissues into the shoulders of my jacket to make me look more professional-like."

"Humph. I thought it was a little overboard."

"I guess... I was just trying to lighten the situation."

Lumina put a comforting hand on Soal's shoulder. "Thank-you. I know you'd never hold a grudge against me."

"What?"

"My sister reminded me of how you used to hold grudges against those who teased you or disagreed with you. And I did just that several years ago when I fought with you over NASA."

"I may have held a grudge against you for that, and maybe, because I was so angry, upheld Soal Si's idea to destroy Ground 2. But that was such a petty grudge. I forgive you now."

Lumina's lips thinned, the left corner quirking upwards. "So, what do we do now?"

"Well, officially, I'm still supposed to bring you in to meet project DESTINY."

Lumina put her wrists in front of Soal. "Let's continue on then."

» » » »

Lumina was shoved through a sliding metal door. Her muscles tightened, her skin taut. "Keep moving Ground 2 scum," Soal cried.

Lumina forced a soft growl from her throat. It was tough trying to act after realizing that Soal Dienze wasn't the criminal. Come to think of it, Lumina thought, I wonder why Heinz used her last name on all of those things he sent me instead of my mothers. Lumina sighed. It was just something extra to piece together. I'll have to ask Soal later.

A heavy-set guard - dark hair, green eyes, nametag read David - walked up to block Soal and Lumina's path. David eyed Lumina curiously. "Is this the one called Hera? Leader of Ground 2?"

Soal nodded, no hint of her deception to be seen through her composure.

"This way then Hera," the guard said, leading Lumina by the handcuffs.

The room was very spacy. It was dark inside, the monitors on several LapPads the only light able to glint off steel rungs and metal machinery. Lumina's heart began to beat faster, her stomach twisting in on itself.

David lead Lumina down a set of steel stairs only lit up by small LED theatre-like lights. She stumbled once, but Soal, who trailed closely behind, helped to right her, removing her hand when David looked back. The three continued on down a narrow, steel walled hall before standing before a red, metal door.

David wrapped his knuckles against the door's surface.

Lumina swallowed.

Soal placed a hand on Lumina's right shoulder blade. Squeezed.

The door opened before them. A woman - 5.5 in height, auburn hair with thick strands of gray, and facial features that closely represented Lumina's - stood, smirking behind the door. Lumina's fear suddenly bubbled into anger. "Mom!" Lumina sneered. Lumina stepped forward, but was jerked back by David and Soal.

"Daughter," Lumina's mother greeted. "How wonderful it is to see you again."

Lumina settled, her muscles tensing to keep her still. "I would wish you the same, but the situation doesn't call for it."

"Yes." She made eye contact with David and gestured for him to drag Lumina in. When Soal stepped one foot inside, Lumina's mother placed a palm out in front of her. You can go back to your duties Dienze. I don't want you deceiving me like Trattle did. Especially given that you were, at one-time, best friends with her."

"Oh, let her stay," Lumina spat. "She's the only one keeping me from getting after you, unlike David who thinks he can keep me wrangled with one hand here."

With that comment, David placed his other hand on the handcuffs. Lumina fired off another round. "And yet, even two hands are still not enough. In fact, it's easier for me to flip'em this way."

David grew angry and backed off. "I give up ma'am. Let Hera have Ms. Dienze hold her back. I'm done listening to her insults." David said the last sentence with genuine hurt marked in his eyes.

Lumina flashed a grin. It was easy to poke at his Achilles heel.

Lumina's mother scrunched up her face and narrowed her eyes at Soal. David crossed his arms and sunk his chin down onto his chest, walking away, his footsteps fading down the hall.

Soal walked up behind Lumina, her hands holding onto and squeezing Lumina's arms until she felt the slightest ache of pain. Lumina smile inwardly. Soal's grip was tight enough to be convincing, but loose enough to break free from.

"Get moving Hera," Soal demanded.

Lumina walked forward, the cleats on her boots clapping against the metal surface of the floor. Lumina's inside smile persisted at the taste of Soal's deception.