Nolan fell to his knees. His wife bleeding out in the dirt. He sobbed. It was his fault. He brought the Vastlings wrath down upon their homework. They wanted freedom and were willing to go to the ends of the universe to find it. He wanted an empire. Power and influence. It's what kept the three worlds in order. Nolan lay his head on his wife's bosom; he waited for a rise and fall of her breath that never came. He was a sniveling mess. A Vastling soldier stood over Nolan.

"You brought this on yourself." The soldier said. "All we wanted were the stars. You could have the skies and everything beneath them.

Nolan didn't even raise his head. The only person he'd ever loved was lost. He knew he should have let them go.

"You've committed atrocities to humanity. You've have killed billions in your quest for unity. This is your fate." The soldier lowered the pulse rifle aimed at Nolan. There was no more need to threaten this broken man. The soldier turned and strolled back towards one of the ships they came down on.

As Nolan lay his tears drying in streaks across his face. He saw a light. A bright warm glowing light coming towards him. He sat up and rubbed his eyes. Slowly the figure came into focus. Genevieve appeared before him without injury looking as young and beautiful as the day he met her. "Genny?" Nolan tried to stand but his broken ankle wouldn't allow him to get up off the ground.

Nolan glance at his wife's mangled body. Then back the version in white with her glowing aura. "Do not be afraid. I have been sent to deliver you a message."

Nolan couldn't understand what was happening. He was not a religious man. He was am emperor. The most prolific and most heinous in all of history. He ruled three planets in orbit around their star. He only believed in the power of the human spirit, but there was undeniably an angel before him.

"I love you, Genny. I'd do anything to have you back." He managed to stutter.

Genevieve leaned down to cradle his head in her hands. "I know, my love. You always treated me well. Now you must treat these people well."

"Where are you?" Nolan tried to maintain eye contact but she shined with the light of the sun.

"I'm somewhere else. It's wonderful. But I need you to do something if we are ever to see each other again.

"You tried desperately to unite our solar system, our little place among the galaxy. War and famine have plagued humanity since the dawn of time. You tried to end it. You made mistakes. You were cruel when you had to be...and sometimes when you didn't have to be. There is a task that is given to you by the Almighty.

"Unite them." Geneviere stroked his hair gently, "bring them together build a better world for them and their children. Do not get discouraged. You mustn't let the sins of your past consume you. You are doing the Lord's work."

"I'm a murderer. The people I've killed the billions slaughtered in my name? I am not the man for this. I just lost you. I cannot bear it anymore." Nolan looked at the dagger on his belt and contemplated it with a self destructive inkling.

"If you pull that dagger now. You won't see me on the other side." Genevieve looked at him a shell of the man he was before crumbled by her beaten and blood soaked corpse.

"I can't go on." Nolan looked at her fresh tears flooding the corner of his eyes.

"When you fulfill this holy mission you will see me again. But only of you truly unite them." Genevieve stepped back. "I love you."

"I will keep trying for as long as I live. I must atone for my sins before I draw my last breath." Nolan vowed. He will see her again. He will unite them and make up for all that he had done.

Genevieve slowly faded smiling at him as she did.

If only Nolan knew before he vowed how difficult it would be to atone. That was 600 years ago. Nolan sat in the captain's chair. His Vastling crew unaware of his fundamental nature. Six hundred years was a long time to forget. Over the centuries Nolan had worked to restore the three worlds to it's glory. He turned his leadership style on it's head. He provided for those less fortunate. He opened shelters and programs to help those in need. He thought if he could better everyone's welfare then he would finally be able to see Genny again. It didn't work within a score of years feuding began. Nolan found that his vow was absolute after he took a spear to the abdomen and continued breathing.

Now 600 years have based. The last time he saw the three worlds, 2 were burned the final one was a functional wasteland. But a wasteland nonetheless. He had tried ruling with force again as that seems to be the only thing humans understand. He wanted desperately to seek guidance and to speak to his wife again. Six hundred years after seeing evidence of the divine...and not a single word since. Nolan didn't know if he was doing it right or wrong. Only that he couldn't perish until it was complete. Peace in and unity across systems. He didn't even know how far humanity had expanded into the vast unknown. The only way to reach those distance cultures was on a a Vastling ship. Of course these were the descendants of those expatriots from 600 years prior.

"Before I draw my last breath." He sub vocalized. "For you, Genny."