novelxo Chapter 0439
"I'll take that," dad says quietly, holding Jackson's gaze. "Your offer to fight for Ariel, if you're not yet ready to call yourself a patriot of Moon Valley, as it does amount to the same thing. But I hope that in time you will come to love this nation as she does. As I do." "Oh, I think I'm well on my way, sir," Jackson replies, giving dad a steady nod.
Dad nods back and then turns back to Hank. "What else do you need?"
"Oh, a lot, unfortunately," Hank says, turning to my dad with raised eyebrows. "If what Jackson says is correct then the Community is enacting great injustices against its citizens - huge violations of their human rights. I think..." he glances anxiously at Jackson here, "that you have an obligation to intercede, Dominic."
Dad hums a little consideringly and then turns his gaze back to Jackson. "And the Community," my father says softly, "you believe it strips its citizens of their free will?"
"In every way," Jackson says with a solid nod. "It denies them choices. It denies them even the knowledge of choice - knowledge that a different life is possible. There are no...options, only commands. They...take children away from their parents - raise them in different sections of the Community where they have no connection to their biological family, no chance to foster affection, because those things are marked as weakness. It's a move that strips and isolates people - allows their only allegiances to be to the Community itself. It is..." he sighs again, shaking his head. "A bad place, sir."
I see a muscle flick in dad's jaw as he works hard to keep his emotions off his face. Family, we all know, is incredibly important to him - and the idea of someone taking his children away...
Dad takes a deep breath, tucking the thought away and turning back to Hank. "How would you suggest we proceed?"
"If young Jackson here is willing," Hank says, glancing at Jackson for a moment, "I would like to continue asking him questions - quite a lot of questions. The information needs to be amassed and could save lives."
Dad turns to Jackson with a raised eyebrow and Jackson nods, agreeing to it.
"It means my relocation to the Capital," Hank says with a sigh, raising his hand to rub at his temple. "God, Sarah's going to kill me. But...it's important work. I want to do it. Maybe...I come here once a week, to continue my interviews with Jackson? Until we feel like we're done? In the intervening time I can confirm his answers and start coming up with a plan."
Hank raises an eyebrow at Jacks to see if this works for him and my mate nods, steady. Warmth and pride for my Jackson raises steadily in me and honestly, I can't take my eyes off him.
Mom squeaks in delight at the prospect that Hank and his family will be moving closer and leans forward to him, instantly beginning to make plans.
"You two can go," dad says, sighing and pushing himself up from his chair. "I think we're done for now." He comes around the table and holds out his hand to Jackson, who shakes it warmly, dropping my hand for the first time to do it.
"Thank you, sir," Jackson says, holding my father's gaze steadily. "For believing me."
"Oh, how could I not," dad says, a little Sinclair smirk pulling up the corner of his mouth. "Someone who clearly loves my daughter that much is...difficult not to believe."
Jackson blushes lightly but nods, dropping my father's hand as mom comes flying at us, wrapping Jackson in a big hug before darting over to give me a kiss, murmuring lots of things about how much she loves us and how grateful she is for Jackson's information. I hug my mom tightly, pressing my eyes shut, not wanting to let her go. "You'll be fine, baby," mom whispers. "Stick with this one and you'll be fine."
"I know," I sigh back. "Just gonna miss you."
"Oh, I'm sure you'll see me around," she says, and I pull back a little in surprise to see her grinning a little wickedly. "Because if Hank is coming here every week by helicopter - I'm sure I'll catch a ride every so often."
I burst out laughing and hug her close again before kissing my dad on the cheek, shaking Dr. Hank's hand, and moving to Jackson's side.
Our family is still calling their goodbyes as we slip out the door, pulling it shut behind us. As soon as we're alone I reach my arms up, standing on my toes, emitting a little squeak of demand. My mate immediately complies with my unspoken command, letting out a little snarl as he pulls me up into his arms, lifting me completely off the floor.