Jak runs past several clusters of the Ardor, drawing closer to the humans he was pointing to. He slows to a stride as he begins to see them in more detail. A group of three humans kneel in meditation amongst a group of the ancient beings. 

Jak stops, a few meters from them, his heart pounding. He is only subliminally aware of his dizziness and nausea.

“Taith? Is that you…?”

A woman from the group slowly looks up and her eyes widen in astonishment. There is a moment of silence as the two stare at each other. The woman stands and takes a step forward.

“Dad?”

She recognizes the man before her, but there is a deep sadness in his eyes. He looks a shadow of his former self, his rugged confidence and geniality replaced by a withered exterior and forlorn expression. She pauses for a moment longer before running over to him. He meets her with a strong embrace. They hold tightly for a while before pulling away to look at one another, both unable to speak through their tears. They try to find words, but succumb to their emotions with tearful smiles. 

Taith is the first to speak.

“I... I can’t believe you’re here… Dad… I thought you were dead… How did you find me?”

“I saw your message, Taith. I came as soon as I saw it. I thought you had died too.”

“I almost did. My suit held together just long enough to be picked up by scavengers. I was in a bad way. They saved my life by bringing me here. But for the longest time I was so lost without you. I didn’t know what to do or how to live anymore… everything that meant anything was gone from my life. It was a really dark time for me Dad.”

“I’ve felt exactly the same, Taith. I’ve been so numb since I lost you.”

“Without this place I'm not sure I could have held on.” Taith motions to the ancient beings, “The Ardor saved my mind, Dad. It’s so hard to explain, but they are much older than we think… what they can do… what they know is…”

“I know Taith. They communicated with me. They told me the sun is near its end. We have to leave the system!”

Taith pauses for a moment. Holding back more tears, she begins to explain to her father.

“It’s too late Dad. We tried to warn others for so long. The Ardor have evolved a connection to the sun far beyond anything we know. They communicate and draw energy from it directly… they are connected to it spiritually in a way that we can barely begin to understand. The death of the sun is a slow and painful process for them – they are undergoing a deep collective depression. We have been helping them through all of this. All they need is to be felt, to be heard; for their stories to be shared. They have so much to teach and we have so much to learn.”

“But… Taith… if it is ending… Why did you stay here?” Jak trembles through his teary questioning.

“I’ve come to love them, Dad. I was so lost for years, even before the accident. I know you felt it too… the meaninglessness of it all. Why did we even come to this system in the first place? Why were we building those hideous colonies? For who?”

Jak breaks down and falls into her arms.

“I’m so sorry Taith. I shouldn't have brought you here. You were right.” 

Taith pulls away slightly to look into her father’s eyes, reassuring him with her gaze.

“It’s okay, Dad. This place has taught me so much. These years have been the most meaningful of my entire life. The Ardor have given me a sense of purpose that I never knew was even possible. I wish I could have shared it all with you, Dad. If I'd known you were alive I would have come to meet you, but I’m so glad I found this place. Dad, we are here for them and they are here for us. The end is not meaningless.”

They hold each other lovingly for what feels like an eternity. From the corner of her eye Taith sees a figure approaching them, partially silhouetted by the looming sun. She looks up to see a one-armed, almost naked man. He looks weak, and his skin is pale and riddled with scars, but there is a stillness in his face that she recognizes.

Jak turns around to make out the figure walking towards them. The man slowly raises his only arm, stopping for a moment and gesturing at them openly. He speaks quietly but she immediately recognises his voice. Taith knows this man.

“Ryker…”