Slowly but surely we began to move forward, to rebuild. But we had to relearn all that had been forgotten. We had to conduct the same experiments, the same research and development, and suffer through the same countless failures as we slowly progressed. Until that fateful day of discovery. The day we learned that everything we once were had not been lost, but had only been misplaced. It was the day that humanity would regain all that had been taken from us. It was the day the Data Ark was discovered!”

“Jeez,” the young man mumbled as he sipped his cocktail. “You’d think he had been there himself.” He finished his drink, setting it back down as he gestured to the bartender for a refill before turning back to face the stage. From his position at the end of the bar, he could see across the sea of supporters-‘his father’s flock’ as he liked to call them-all mesmerized by his oratory.

“There you are.” The young woman leaned against the bar next to him, tucking in close to keep the evening breeze from chilling her bare shoulders. “How long have you been hiding out back here?”

“Since the moment I arrived.” He turned to face her, giving her a small kiss on the cheek. “How have you been, sis?”

“Nice choice of attire there, Nathan,” she said, noticing his dress uniform. “Just couldn’t pass up a chance to stick it to the old man, huh?”

“Yeah, well, you know what Pop always says about missed opportunities…”

“…Are lost advantages,” she finished for him. “Don’t remind me.” She picked up his drink and took a sip, her face puckering at the bitterness of the alcohol. “Since when do you drink the hard stuff?”

“How else am I going to get through this?”

“You talk to Mom yet?”

“I’ve been trying to avoid that.”

Nathan’s sister looked to the right side of the crowd, spotting her mother standing to one side, talking to a small group of people. “There she is.” She started to jump up and down, waving.