Destiny: Book of Light by Paul Allen Page B

birds feathers. He extended his hand and then pulled back abruptly. His head went back down. "The reason I am speaking to you tonight, is you bare an uncanny resemblance to someone dear to me."
    "Oh my." She was taken back.
"You must mean my sister Sarah?"
"Yes, so you're her sister?" Sean's eyes lightened.
"Yes, we are twins. Times were hard for our parents and they had to send me here to live with my Aunt, god rest her soul. I had kept in contact until I heard of the death of our parents and since then I have heard nothing from her, is she here?" Her eyes darted around the room.
    "No," said Sean with enough gloom for Vulitas eyes to focus on him with curious worry.
"She was taken by him."
"By him, you mean....?"
"Yes, him. It is awhile back. I have been tracking the world for her since. And now I fear he has returned to the Dark Canyons, and it is there that I must travel."
"I can't believe this." It took her a moment for everything to set in and realise what Sean had just said. "Nobody has ever returned from the canyons, that's madness. I mean I love her more than anything and have waited years for any news of her." Tears filled her eyes. "But to travel there is suicide, especially alone. Do you even know she's alive?"
"Search your heart and tell me if you know?"
She smiled.
"And I am not alone. I bring with me a special kind of army. She never spoke of a sister?"
"Really? That's surprising, you obviously knew her well, I don't see why she wouldn't have spoken of me? How do you mean a special kind of army?"
    "Listen I could really use your help, we ran into a lot of trouble on our way and we are in need of a crew."
"Oh so it's like that, you're not going to answer my question but you ask for my help?"
"I am sorry but I should have said nothing of that. The less people know the less can get hurt. Can you help me?"
"Yes I can. But if I help you find a crew I want to go with you? I would do anything for Sarah. What say you?"
"If I was to take the lessons of my Father in this matter I would tell you that this is too dangerous a trip for a woman to be taking, but I have learned from experiencing the strength of Sarah’s will, and see that in you. So instead I will say to you, you do understand that this is an acutely dangerous journey and most, if not all, that take it will perish."
"I do."
"And that there is little hope of actually getting any where near Sarah not a mind actually saving her?"
"I do."
Sean felt he could trust her. He didn't know why, only that maybe everything was familiar with her and some of the trust he'd had with Sarah was attributed to her because of it.
"Then I must also inform you that not only is this a trip to save Sarah, but we are also intended on...." He stopped and looked around to make sure nobody was listening and then whispered in her ear. "Destroy him."
She pulled back and the level of her voice rose. "That's madness you can't go against..."
He calmed her using his hand in the universal upward, downward motion.
She moved closer and spoke softer. "You can't go against him he'll destroy you, all of you?"
"Someone has to stand up to him. For too long he has held this planet in the grasp of his hand, and for too long have those who inhabit it stood by and did nothing."
"Did nothing? What about the Federate Wars?"
"The Federation didn't have what I have. And the Federation attacked his armies, not him directly. Besides that was over 20 years ago, nobody has done anything since then. He will not be expecting it."
"Maybe." She said hesitantly. "How do you mean what you have? What special army?"
"I'll tell you about that later, in the mean time can you sort out that crew?"
"So we have a deal?"
"Yes we do."
"Ok so wait here, I shouldn't be too long."
"Ok but say nothing of where we're going or what we're doing but there will be a cash lump some of 3000 Rushnas to those who make it back.
"3000, that would sort them for life?"
"Yes but do let them know it may cost them their lives."
"Ok I will."
    She went