Date: 06/20/2525

Planet: Reach

Location: Reach FLEETCOM Military Complex, Halsey’s temporary office.

Daisy stood and stared at the clone; the source of the pressure. “You.” she gasped, but before she could say more another voice interrupted her.

“No, it can’t be….. Da-Daisy?” stuttered a voice that Daisy longed to hear for so many years. A voice she only heard in her dreams of a life she lost. She turned to the source and saw a face that she had longed to see again. It was her mother older than she remembered, but still recognizable.

Daisy’s Mother walked on trembling legs to the daughter she didn’t even know she’d lost until a few minutes ago. She looked up at Daisy - who was a head taller than her - and stretched out her arm touching Daisy’s cheek and staring for what seemed like an eternity. Then her teary eyes widened, “oh god, it’s you. It’s really you; I recognized those eyes. You have Jon’s eyes and you look just like….. Halsey was telling the truth, which means-”

Daisy’s father shakily stepped towards his daughter. “You were kidnapped and replaced, and we didn’t even know it! I served for 10 years. I bled and made sacrifices, so you wouldn’t have to! And this is how…. They betrayed us!” he yelled, his fists shaking.

Amy looked over Daisy seemingly taking note of her body, and her surgical scars in particular. “What happened to you,” she whispered.

Daisy snapped out of her stupor and focused on her parents. “Why are you here!? Did, Halsey, do something?!”

Daisy’s parents took turns explaining recent events. From how her clone suddenly became strong and healthy and getting visits from Dr. Halsey who went under the name Dr. Holly, to the discovery that her clone was host to a symbiote after she tried to protect them from others like her, and finally how Dr. Halsey took them in custody. Daisy couldn’t believe it; it sounded so far fetched yet they were here. It was like fate decided to answer her deepest desire but in the most undesirable way possible: in Dr. Halsey, or more accurately ONI’s custody. Then there was her clone becoming the creature that, based on her parents’ description, was just like the one in her dream, and recent nightmare.

Daisy’s mother looked at the scars on her arm then back at Daisy. “What did they do to you?” she softly cried.

BGM: Daisy's theme

Daisy felt a lump in her throat. Her parents suffered enough, they didn’t need to know about the training and augmentations.

“You…. You don’t want to know,” she whispered.

“Please, Daisy, tell us, we need to know. We need to know what they did to our daughter,” begged Jon, barely containing his emotions.

They were right, they deserved to know. “For eight years-” she started. “-we were put through excruciating training tougher than even ODSTs go through, and when we turned 14 they….” Daisy paused remembering the injections, surgeries and agonizing recovery. “They augmented us; turning us into something different,” she whispered. “It was agonizing and only half of us survived, but we came out stronger and faster as a result. A few weeks after the surgeries I and four others planned and executed our escape.” Daisy tightened her fists as tears streamed down her face. “I returned home and I was so happy, but then I saw someone who looked just like me. Halsey explained that I was cloned and that my parents didn’t even know I was gone!” explained Daisy as bitterness crept into her voice. A flare of anger rose up in Daisy. How could they not notice that the clone wasn’t her? There must have been signs! But as soon as it came it was gone like a doused flame. She couldn’t stay angry at them; the clones were perfect copies, and any oddities could easily be dismissed for one reason or another.

Suddenly Daisy felt arms wrap around her as her parents held her in a warm embrace. They were sobbing.

“We’re so sorry, Daisy, we’re horrible parents. We saw you were acting strangely, but we dismissed it.” wailed her Mom.

“We failed you. We understand if you are angry at us and won’t forgive us,” sobbed her father.

Daisy hugged back, careful with her enhanced strength. “Mom, Dad,” started Daisy, the unfamiliar yer familiar words rolled on her tongue. “I’m not angry at you; not anymore. You couldn’t have known. I…. I missed you so much. After they took me here, ” Daisy choked. “For the first few weeks, I cried day and night wanting to be with my parents again. I fought for years to maintain my memory of you; I was so afraid that one day I would forget. They already took my name, and memories were all I had left,” Daisy went quiet for a moment. “I love you!” she finally cried as long-buried emotions poured out.

“We love you too, Daisy,” sobbed her mom.

“We failed you, but we won’t again,” promised her dad.

“You didn’t fail me,” whispered Daisy.

Daisy felt her parents hug tighter. She wanted this moment to last forever. She was happy, yet she also felt sad. The strange part was that some of her happiness and all of her sadness felt they were coming from somewhere, or rather, someone else. Daisy looked behind her parents and saw her clone staying a good distance away from them with a sad smile and tears on her face. Daisy could feel the emotions radiating off of her. Daisy let go of her parents’ embrace.

“Mom, Dad, there’s someone else that needs to hear those words more than me,” whispered Daisy taking a quick glance behind them.

“Your clone,” whispered her Dad.Her mom looked down.

“She was telling the truth the whole time,” she whispered.

“I understand if you’re angry at her, but-” started Daisy quietly.

“We’re not angry at her, why would we be? It’s not her fault,” said Jon, his body shaking. “It’s those bastards in HIGHCOM and ONI,” he growled.Amy covered her mouth in realization.

“Dear God, she must feel so lost and alone right now,” she looked down in shame. “In all the commotion, when she needs her parents more than ever we left her behind,” she cried.

Jon straightened himself then looked at Daisy’s clone. “Then let’s show her that she still has a family that loves her.” he said as they went to the clone.

Daisy followed her mom and dad to comfort Amaranth. No longer did she see her as a clone, but a sister.

(Meanwhile….)

BGM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHty4aawbAo

Amaranth smiled with bittersweet tears rolling down her face as she watched Amy and Jon finally reunited with their real daughter. She felt the happiness radiating off of Daisy as they talked and hugged. Nightstalker was, thankfully, quiet giving Amaranth some much-needed space. Amaranth was happy for them.They found their real daughter. But now she was just Amaranth. No last name, no middle name, and no family. For who would accept an imposter as their child? Unintentionally or not, she lied to them for years while their real daughter was stripped of her childhood and put through the unspeakable. She stole their daughter’s life and she deserved every bit of hate they had for her.

Amaranth flinched as she saw the group walking towards her. ‘Well, here it comes. The rejection and ‘I hate you’s’ she thought. Amaranth took a deep breath and lowered her head unable to look them in the eyes. Her hands shook and her legs suddenly felt like jelly, barely able to keep her standing. When she saw their feet in the corner of her eyes her legs buckled sending Amaranth to her knees.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t want to replace Daisy, or have any of this happen to any of you! I didn’t want to take her life. I understand your hate for me!” She lowered her head further and quietly cried as more tears came out. “I’m sorry. I’m so sor-” Amaranth suddenly found herself picked up and hugged in Amy’s arms, her face resting on Amy’s chest. Amaranth could hear her heart gently beating. It was comforting.

“We don’t hate you,” comforted Amy.

“Wh-What?” uttered Amaranth.

Amaranth felt another pair of arms wrap around her. “We don’t hate you, how can we hate our daughter,” reaffirmed Jon.

Amaranth pushed them back, shaking her head incredulously. “Why?! I’m not your daughter! I’m a clone, a defective thing grown in a test tube! A fake with no home, no nam-”

“Amaranth Ann Spencer!” yelled Amy as she grabbed Aamranth’s shoulders shocking her into silence and forcing her to look into Amy’s tear-soaked eyes. “I don’t care about your origins!” A sad smile crossed her face as she caressed Amaranth’s slightly disheveled hair. “I may not have spent almost 24 hours in the hospital pushing you out, but that doesn't change the fact that you’re still our daughter. The girl we raised for eight years. The girl we watched become sicker by the day and hoped by some miracle that you would become healthy. The girl who loves fantasy, anime, and manga.” Amy let out a choked sob. “I don’t want those words to ever come out of your mouth again; I will not tolerate you demeaning yourself!”

“You’re still family; you’re still our baby girl,” added Jon.

Amaranth stared with teary eyes, her mouth agape, then shook her head. “How can you say these things?! I put you in danger, stole your daughter’s life and I lied to you for eight years!”

Daisy took a step closer and joined in. “You’re a victim just like everyone else affected by this damn program. I don’t blame you and I don’t hate you. Amaranth, You’re more than just a clone. You’re-” Daisy paused for a moment. “You’re my sister. You’re family.” Daisy finally said.

‘You see, Amaranth, they accept you. You had nothing to fear. Now go embrace them and never let go.’ encouraged Nightstalker.

Amaranth lowered her head as tears cascaded down her face, hitting the ground. She could feel Daisy’s emotions. She didn’t hate her, in fact she loved and pitied her. Amy and Jo- No, Mom and Dad, accepted her. After everything, they still accepted and loved her. They didn’t care about where she came from, or why They loved her all the same. Amaranth lurched forwards and embraced them all in a tight hug. She sobbed into her mom’s chest feeling them hug her back.

“I…. I was so afraid that you would reject and hate me! I felt so guilty about replacing Daisy, and so lost. I gave myself a new name, but I’m still trying to figure out who I really am. Who is Amaranth? Do I have my own interests and personality, or am I just Daisy if she was never kidnapped?” she let out a hiccup mixed with her sobbing. “I love you. I-”

Amaranth felt her mom stroke her hair bringing back memories of when she was younger. After her seizure, when she was in the hospital, her mom would sit by her bed and stroke her hair to comfort Amaranth.

“Shhhh, you’re Amaranth Ann Spencer, and you can be whoever you want to be. And we will help you figure out the rest. For now, just let it all out,” she comforted. Amaranth sobbed even harder, but out of happiness. She was an idiot for thinking they would reject her. Nightstalker was right; they weren’t those types of people. Even Daisy accepted her as her sister despite everything. For the next few minutes, Amaranth cried and enjoyed her family’s embrace. She had family, and she would- No, she, Nightstalker and Daisy would protect them. No matter what.