"It was." Until the accident. Then after that, it was more like his memories of them, all the traveling he did with them, that kept him going and kept him inspired. It was like Eva was trying to hit every single hurt. First his wife, now this. Eva just had to pick at new and old wounds and she didn't even know she was doing it. Or maybe she did have some idea, and she was only saying it because she'd had a few to drink.

"I'm sorry. They're still family though," Even if Eva's sister didn't share her interests, she should appreciate them while they were there. It only took one day and then you never had the chance. They left. They might not mean it, but they left. Gone forever. "If we ever get to go back, maybe she'd like to see you again."

He'd rather talk about the hand device or sarcophagus than talk about his parents. And with some relief, Daniel hastily latched onto the subject.

"Beautiful, isn't it? The very last remnant of his race. Their society seems to have been made up of three equal classes, warrior-priest-scholars, with lesser tiers supporting them."