[color=gold][center][h1][i][b]DELTΔ HYPER[/b][/i][/h1][/center][/color] [color=gold][center][h2][i][b]Los Angeles[/b][/i][/h2][/center][/color] [b]Soundtrack: [url=https://youtu.be/uH88VMXInrI?feature=shared] Michael Bolton - Fathers and Daughters [/url][/b] [hr] Alexander had never been happier to leave someplace. He was just grateful that the press conference was over. He had never been more grateful to get out of a place. He understood Arianna’s desire to leave the hospital after being cooped up inside for weeks focused on injury and how she was feeling. It would be good for her to get a change of scenery. He had wanted to spend time with Arianna but she was going to her mother’s house while she finished her recovery. Her current dorm room was not set up for her needs and she was not ready to return to classes just yet. Her professors had all agreed to let her finish the courses over the summer after she had recovered. She was still on a special diet so he couldn’t even really take her for a meal. The hospital had arranged for him to use a conference room so he could get a little time alone with her after the press conference. Alexander sat in the chair next to his daughter. They had turned their chairs to face one another. Alexander drank in the sight of his daughter sitting up on her own and moving around even if it wasn’t perfect yet. She had so much more life than the last time he had seen her. It had been so hard to focus on what he needed to do wondering if she was recovering. He smiled at her and took both of her hands in his. Alexander: [color=00aeef]“Arianna, I am sorry I have been so busy and this is the first time I have managed to see you since you had your surgery. I love you so much. Do you need anything? I understand that you are going back to your mother’s house while you finish recovering.” [/color] Alexander sighed and tried not to show how much that bothered him. Candace had been a good mother to Arianna when she was younger. She had changed over the years. He was worried that she wouldn’t be there for Arianna now that she was an adult. Arianna allowed her father to take her hands. She gave him an understanding look. [color=ec008c]Arianna: “Daddy I know you wanted to be here. I also know that your new job is how you are paying for all this.” [/color] Arianna’s voice caught as her lower lip trembled and tears crept down her face of their own accord. She was very close to her father. He was the one person she could always talk to. He understood her better than almost anyone else. He was always the first person she could count on to be there for her. He was also the first person she shared her thoughts and feelings with. Her father made her feel safe and cherished. She also knew he had gone through his own trauma over injuries and thought he would understand. [color=ec008c]Arianna: “D..Dad. When I woke up the first time. It was horrible. I could barely move my head. I couldn’t talk because they had to wire my jaw shut because it was broken. I was in so much pain but yet I couldn’t feel my body, just my head. It was so confusing. My brain was foggy because of the medications and the concussion. They didn’t have me on heavy painkillers believing I couldn’t feel much. I couldn’t communicate with them. No one even realized I had woken up. I felt so alone. Mom was there but…” [/color] More tears flowed down her face and she gave a heart wrenching sobbing hiccup. Her voice was laden with emotional pain. Alexander felt as if his heart was going to beat out of his chest listening to the agony in his daughter’s voice. It killed him even more to hear her describe what she had gone through. He leaned forward and kissed her gently on the forehead where he knew she could feel it. He cupped her cheek gently. [color=00aeef]Alexander: “It’s okay Arianna. You can talk to me. Mom was there but what?”[/color] Arianna was breathing heavily like she had been running a race. She had the most hurt and betrayed look on her face. Arianna continued talking fast like she had to purge the emotions from her system. Her breathing ragged and the hiccups came faster and harder. [color=ec008c]Arianna: “The doctors and mom didn’t know I was awake yet. My eyelids felt like they had weights attached to them. I heard mom talking to the doctors. They were telling her how badly I was injured and that I would never walk again without help. They explained that I was now paralyzed from the neck down and would be unable to do anything for myself without medical help. They explained that with prosthetics I would at least be able to take care of myself. Mom said great because she wasn’t a nursemaid. That playing nurse to an ungrateful brat was not her job anymore. She said..” Arianna’s voice broke before she managed to spit out. “That it would be better that I had died if I couldn’t take care of myself.” [/color] Alexander had never wanted to strangle his ex-wife more than he did at that moment. The fear and anxiety on Arianna’s face and the pain made him want to hit something. Preferably Candace. Alexander couldn’t hide the rage in his eyes from his daughter. He shook his head. Candace had gone too far this time. Arianna was an adult and could make her own choices. He was done coddling his ex-wife. He did his best to control the raging fury that had him wanting to smash things. He looked up at the ceiling as he took deep breaths trying to calm his inner demons. He was imagining crushing the life out of his ex-wife with his bare hands. He would protect his daughter even from himself. There was a side of him that she had never seen. He didn’t want to scare her with the part of him that had taken lives and wielded a gun into a battle. Arianna was taking deep hiccup gulps of air. Her voice sounded uncertain and scared. [color=ec008c]Arianna: “D..Da..ad?”[/color] Arianna’s scared voice helped push back the killing rage he was feeling. He closed his eyes and leaned forward pulling her into his arms. He lifted her onto his lap and cuddled her like she was a little girl once more. He held her firmly, petting her hair and rocking her a little. [color=00aeef]Alexander: “It’s okay Arianna. I am just very angry with your mother. I never told you this story because I didn’t want you to think poorly of your mother. I don’t know what she has told you over the years about why we got divorced. I have avoided giving you any of the details because you lived most of the year with your mother. You deserved a good carefree childhood. I tried to give that to you…” [/color] He paused, gathering his thoughts. Arianna had melted into his embrace. Alexander held her close. It felt so good that even as an adult she still trusted him so much and found comfort in his presence. She had always brought out the best in him. She was still the best thing he had ever done with his life. Arianna’s voice was shaky but firm as she demanded answers from him. [color=ec008c]Arianna: “Dad I have asked you before but you have always deflected. Tell me the truth.”[/color] Alexander sighed as began the story that he had hoped never to share with his daughter. It was a painful story for him to share with anyone. Candace was the one person who made him feel ashamed and inadequate. [color=00aeef]Alexander: “I met your mother when I was working with NATO’s military arm. My team had been sent to rescue hostages at a UCLA sorority house. Your mother was one of the women I helped rescue that night. Your mother was so beautiful and full of life. We started dating and then after a wild night in Vegas we got married. I thought I had everything I wanted in life. I had a beautiful wife, a job I was proud of, and a beautiful baby girl. Our lives were not glamorous but I thought we were happy. You were two when the terrorist action my team was sent in to stop turned out to be a trap for troops. That explosion took my arms. You know this part of the story. I was sent home to heal and I needed help. Your mother told me she didn’t want to be my nurse. She asked me for a divorce. She took you and left. I didn’t fight her because how could I take care of a 2 year old. I couldn’t even take care of myself at the time.” [/color] He sucked in a deep breath and finding his courage continued pushing through the pain the memories brought. Alexander was pulled into those painful memories. [color=00aeef]Alexander: “I was in pain. My arms were gone but I suffered from phantom pain. The medical care given to veterans wasn’t that great. They were trying to train me to use the old fashioned prosthetics with steel hooks. Cybernetics was a fairly young field then. I was depressed, sad, and felt like a burden. I felt helpless. I still needed so much help. I couldn’t even get dressed or feed myself. I moved home to live with your grandfather. He was the one who managed to get me into the cybernetic trial for new arms. I adapted to them really well. I was so excited. I pushed myself to recover and get back in shape. I worked hard to learn how to use them. I was determined that you wouldn’t be able to tell at a casual glance. I went to see you and approached your mother about our marriage. I tried to show her that I was a whole man again. I could hold her in my arms like a husband should again. Your mother told me that she felt like she was being touched by a robot. She demanded I sign the divorce papers. I had been putting it off hoping to change her mind. I didn’t understand why she couldn’t love me. I was still the same person. I just had been injured. I thought love was supposed to overcome stuff like that. I was so naive. Losing my arms was not as painful as losing your mother’s love. I now wonder if she had ever loved me at all. I signed the divorce papers with the stipulation that I got visitation rights and co-parenting rights over you. Your mother’s reaction to my arms… has never left me. It was one of the reasons I pushed to get you approved for this new experimental prosthetics.”[/color] Arianna stared in shock at her father. She was only 2 years old when her father got prosthetic arms. The very same arms holding her now held her when she was younger. She had never thought anything about it. He had always been just dad. His arms had always been just how dad was. No big deal. Her mother had left her father because he was injured in the line of duty and had to use prosthetic arms? All the little verbal barbs her mother had slung her father’s way over the years. Her mother would say things about him when she thought she was not around. Others had told her things her mother had said and she had never believed them. Arianna felt as if her world was shattering slightly. Her whole word view tilted on its axis. Arianna’s voice trembled but she had made up her mind. She spoke with certainty. [color=ec008c]Arianna: “Dad, can I come home to Germany with you? I don’t trust mom. I don’t want to stay with her. Can I live with you while I am recovering?”[/color] Alexander froze, shocked to his core. He thought Arianna had asked to go live with her mother for her recovery. The doctors and staff had told him that it had all been arranged already. He looked over Arianna’s face. [color=ec008c]Arianna: “Mom told the doctors I would be coming home with her. She never asked what I wanted Dad. Neither did they. I overheard her on the phone with her friend Karen. She told Karen since my face was all over the news that she didn’t want me to make her look bad. That she had to bring me home while I got better. Please Dad.” Arianna had tears rolling down her face once more. “Mom doesn’t love me anymore either.”[/color] Alexander’s eyes closed as he held her tight again. The pain in his daughter’s face. Alexander might not have been in a position to take care of her when he was going through his own stuff. But he was in a position to do it now. He kissed her on top of the head. [color=00aeef]Alexander: “Of course you can Princess. We will need to get a hotel room while we arrange to get you a visa and passport. You can stay in my apartment at headquarters. We have a physical therapist and some cybernetic experts on the team. I will have to check in to see if they can help you continue the therapy you need. I will arrange it. You are my daughter. I will always be here for you. You are always welcome in my home. I will always love you Arianna.”[/color] Alexander closed his eyes as he rocked his daughter as she cried her heart out. What kind of mother says something like that about their child? Alexander thanked his stars that Arianna was nothing like her mother. Things moved quickly after that. Once Arianna calmed down he sent a message to Mabel and Katherine to join him in the conference room. The two of them helped him make all the arrangements he needed. Starting with a hotel for all of them. He had planned on flying back to Germany this evening. It would take at least 24 hours to get Arianna an emergency Visa. They left the hospital and visited Arianna’s dorm room where Alexander and Katherine packed all of Arianna’s belongings with the help of her roommate. Alexander was surprised that Dr. Hawthorne took the change in Arianna’s care so well. He connected Dr. Hawthorne with the medical team at Valkyrie about Arianna’s needs. He had already contacted Dr. Montgomery who was pleased to make room in his schedule for Arianna. Dr. Ainsworth was excited to learn more about the prosthetics that Arianna had been given. Alexander was happy with this solution. His daughter would be protected and have the best possible help for her recovery. He would have to be careful not to abuse the privilege. He had asked for help, not demanded it. He asked for volunteers only or recommendations for other doctors that Arianna could see while she was staying with him. He had explained that they would have to do it on their own time. He couldn’t justify taking them away from their work at Valkyrie for her. Arianna had been slightly withdrawn at first but was now looking forward to seeing Germany with excitement. She had never been out of the country. They were back in Germany by Monday morning. Alexander had settled Arianna into his apartment. Mabel had already taken over her grandmotherly duties and shooed Alexander back to work while she gave Arianna the tour and got her security pass settled. Alexander knew better than to argue and there was no better cure for his daughter than Mabel’s warm loving care. [hr] [color=gold][center][h2][i][b]Valkyrie AGR Sport Headquarters: Knight's Office[/b][/i][/h2][/center][/color] [hr] Alexander knew that his decision to bring Arianna back to Germany was going to make him look bad. He didn’t care. He wouldn’t abandon her when she needed him. He could see how vulnerable she was feeling. Her mother had torn all the security and everything she knew about the world to shreds. He knew his daughter was reeling and feeling very alone by hearing her mother’s true nature. He had always hoped to spare her that particular pain. He sent Leopold a message that he needed to see him about something important. He then sent a message off to Wulfric letting him know his daughter would be staying with him while she recovered. Katherine was already drafting a media response for Valkyrie. Alexander recognized that this might set back his goals for getting the new ship designs off the ground. He needed the support of not just the board but he needed to raise the capital to fund them. He needed to hire additional engineers to support developing new craft while the team continued to race this season. It would take more engineering and mechanical staff than they currently had. He also had to begin filing motions and notifications with the racing league. New ships had to adhere to their rules. There was a long process to get new ship designs approved for racing. Alexander was not winning any popularity awards. There were still board members who didn’t trust him. There was still the mysterious backer for Maier hanging out there as well. Leopold called Alexander back. Alexander connected the video call. Alexander looked tired and worried as he took Leopold’s call. [color=00aeef]Alexander: “Thank you for calling me back right away Leopold. I have a situation I need you to be aware of. I am handling it to the best of my ability. I could use your advice.” [/color] Alexander looked ragged. His hair was disheveled as if his hands had run through in exasperation. He had dark circles under his eyes. He had been burning the candle at both ends trying to get all his work done and arrange for everything Arianna would need. [color=fff200]Leopold looked concerned: “What’s going on Alexander?”[/color] [color=00aeef]Alexander: “You know I went to LA because I wanted to be there when my daughter got out of the hospital. I just got back this morning. Leopold, I needed to bring her home with me. She was supposed to move back home with her mother.” [/color] Alexander’s voice cut off as rage suffused his face as he remembered Arianna’s scared voice asking for his help. He will never forget the pain that he saw in his daughter's eyes as she told him her mother didn’t love her. Alexander barely managed to get his shit together. He pushed the anger away and took a deep breath. [color=00aeef]Alexander: “That is no longer an option. She still needs to recover and is not ready to be on her own. I brought her home with me. She needs doctors and prosthetics specialists. I have reached out to staff to see if they would be willing to take care of her needs. I emphasized their work at Valkyrie would come first and it would be on a volunteer basis on their personal time. I know the optics on this are bad. But Leopold…” Alexander’s voice broke a little. “She is my daughter. I won’t abandon her when she needs me. I have moved her into my apartment here on campus. I could use your advice.” [/color] Leopold looked shocked and stunned. This was the last thing he thought he would be discussing with Alexander. When he had discussed this issue with him before hiring him, he had assured him that the plan was for Arianna to go home with her mother in the states. [color=fff200]Leopold: “Damn it Alexander! This makes us both look bad. This makes it look like I condoned this and signed off on it.” [/color] [color=00aeef]Alexander: “I am a father first, Leopold.” Alexander’s jaw clenched hard enough that he thought he cracked a molar. “My daughter just came through a traumatic accident. She overheard her mother telling a friend that the only reason she was allowing her to come home was because everyone had heard her story on the news and it would make her look bad if she didn’t let her daughter come home to recover. My daughter begged me to let her come stay with me. I don’t care how bad it looks. I will work to clean it up as much as I can but my daughter stays with me.” [/color] Leopold searched Alexander’s face and knew he was telling him the truth. That startled him more than he thought it would. He couldn’t help but sympathize with his situation. He sighed. [color=fff200]Leopold: “Damn it Alexander. The timing couldn’t be worse. The work that needs to be done is going to take time and the amount of money needed is going to be astronomical. It will also take a great deal of good will which you were just starting to build. This is going to set us back. You know this.” [/color] Alexander sighed frustrated because he agreed with everything that Leopold was saying. Alexander’s fist came down on his desk. He was so frustrated and he still felt the need to choke the life out of his ex-wife. [color=00aeef]Alexander: “What choice do I have? It is the hand I have been dealt.” [/color] [color=fff200]Leopold sighed. “I will do what I can to minimize the damage. I hope Katherine is already working on a press release. This is not something we can contain. The rumors are probably already flying around about this. Get ahead of it!” [/color] Alexander could only nod as Leopold cut the call. [color=gold][center][h1][i][b]Social Media[/b][/i][/h1][/center][/color] Victory Racing Lap News has heard rumors coming out of Valkyrie AGR Sport headquarters that Alexander Knight has brought his daughter Arianna Knight back to Valkyrie AGR Headquarters to finish her recovery. Rumors from insider sources confirm that he is using team resources to help her recovery. [hr] [color=fff200]OfficeDrone#12:[/color] I have heard this rumor. [color=fff200]SuperfanAGR54:[/color] That’s wrong! Those resources are for the team. [color=fff200]DantheMan:[/color] Knight misappropriated team resources. [color=fff200]Superfan2075:[/color] #confused [color=fff200]DadBod89:[/color] As a father I understand why, but it's not right. [color=fff200]Hater101:[/color] Is Valkyrie paying for her care? [color=fff200]Papabear34:[/color] As a father, I get it. As a fan, I am disappointed. [color=fff200]Nana2050:[/color] There has to be more to this than we know. [color=fff200]GeorgeFly:[/color] #BadKnight [color=fff200]ValkyrieFan56:[/color] Maybe this is part of his deal with Valkyrie. He did say in the interview he came back to racing for her. [color=fff200]Weedhead81:[/color] Woah! Plot twist! Did someone slip shrooms into my stash? [color=fff200]SexyM@m@5:[/color] #disappointed [color=fff200]Paulmulder4eva:[/color] I don’t understand why everyone is so upset? [color=fff200]Britball12:[/color] #WhiteKnightFails [color=fff200]!YouSlow!:[/color] I think we need more details but the optics are bad. [color=fff200]xImFasterthanUx:[/color] This news does not make Valkyrie look good. [color=fff200]AGInthusiast:[/color] I am so confused. Why is this a big deal? It is not like racing teams don’t look for opportunities to study the impact of cybernetic advances. His daughter qualified for an experimental set. It could be planning for the future. [color=fff200]micheal650004:[/color] We don’t know that he is misusing team resources. Just that he has brought her back to recover. [color=fff200]llamalover4life:[/color] Do you believe everything the gossip sites say? [color=fff200]ieatAGR:[/color] Waiting for more information [hr] [hider= Team Valkyrie Characters] https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1zrLx5XUgYiVm6KjTpFTWZtJvXc0MX77enkLzINHujKw/edit?gid=0#gid=0 [/hider]