After their late breakfast, the group of five arrive at the conference room. Pancake has also returned to her “sister’s” side, comfortably sitting on top of her head.
The space is small, enough for only 8 people to squeeze in. A round table is in the middle with chairs and a blackboard on the wall in front of it. In the middle of the table is a white spherical drone with a small optic in the middle.
They all walk towards the table and take a seat, with Lutrex choosing the one that faced the drone. As soon as everyone is seated, Lutrex holds the drone with her hands.
The black liquid from before oozes out from her skin and moves towards the drone, draping the white plate with the dark liquid. The white and yellow color scheme now changes to a black and purple coloration.
After being fully covered, the optic starts to move as Lutrex lets go of the drone. The machine hovers on its own and starts turning around to look at all of the faces present.
Lutrex grabs the drone from the air and gives it an affectionate hug, resting her head on it with a small smile present on her face. The drone returns the hug by producing tendrils on its side and wrapping them around the oni
Lutrex and her father eventually end the hug and the drone floats near her, letting Persnickety have a turn with her father. After a few seconds, the older sibling lets him return to the middle of the table and starts to “talk” through its speakers in a monotone voice.
“It has been a long while since we have shared an embrace, daughter.”
“Indeed. How are you, Father?”
“I am well. I would like to apologize for not being present to congratulate you in person, Lutrex.”
“You have nothing to say sorry for, Father. I understand that you have far more pressing concerns than this. You appearing in your drone is enough for me.”
“I am touched, daughter.”
The oni’s lips curve into a small smile before quickly disappearing as she returns to her stoic demeanor. Back on topic, she questions her reason for being summoned.
“Now what did you want to discuss with me, Father?”
The girl feels a tap from behind to see her aunt with a smile on her face. The aura emanating from her however was not one of kindness.
“Lutrex, would you mind if I talk to your father for a bit? It’s important.”
“O-of course, Aunt Tanya.”
“Thank you, sweetie.”
Lutrex steps aside to give the older woman space to converse, her smile now replaced with a serious look as she stares at the ball in front of her.
“Ms. Klothilda, it has been a while. What would you like to tell-”
Before the machine could finish its sentence, Tanya delivers a blow strong enough to send the drone flying across the room and embed on the wall.
The others in the room are caught off guard by what happened as the scientist readjusted her glasses with her bloodied hand, a frown present on her face as she glared at the machine.
“That’s for kidnapping your daughter."
The drone stuck on the wall sprouted tendrils on its side and pushed itself out, floating back towards the group to talk with its assailant who had her arms crossed.
“It is not kidnapping if the ‘victim’ had consented.”
Tanya punches the drone again with her right arm, sending the machine deeper into the crater it emerged from previously. Her fist now bled heavily as she finished her answer.
“That’s for listening to her.”
This time the two sisters and Pancake try to calm the older woman down while Calian stands behind her to restrain the woman when needed. The drone returns in front of them, this time sporting blood from the angry scientist.
“I understand your disappointment in me, Ms. Klothilda. But perhaps we can continue this later? I would like to continue the discussion with my daughter.”
“...fine.”
She walks back beside Calian, her frown still present. With things settled down, Solomon continues where he left off.
“Back on topic, I called you in regards to the birthday wish you have used.”
Solomon gets interrupted again, this time from a curious Persnickety.
“Sorry for butting in but what’s this about a birthday wish?”
“An offer I gave to your sister. Since she has rejected her birthday because of your mother’s passing-”
A frown forms on the oni’s face as she recalls that day, her body starting to tremble. Pancake snuggled into her cheek to calm her down.
“I have decided to turn her presents into requests she can use when needed. Within reason of course.”
“And she used one of the wishes to choose a planet to be posted at as opposed to being assigned one at random.”
“Why use a wish for a specific planet though?”
This time it's Lutrex who inserts herself into the conversation, serving as the one to answer her sister’s question.
“To follow in Mother’s footsteps, I need to be posted on the planet she had assisted the most during her time as an agent.”
Persnickety, Calian and Tanya’s eyes widen in surprise as they look at Lutrex. Solomon decides to finish her answer.
“She has chosen Earth as her assigned planet.”
The other three in the room are speechless at the announcement from the drone. Silence fills the room before Tanya speaks out, her voice now one of pleading.
“Sir, with all due respect-”
“I have anticipated that you and others would disagree with the choice. Which is why I will be using my authority as the Sovereign of Arkham to reinforce this decision.”
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Tanya shuts up, anger visible through her shaking first as she glared at the machine. Unaffected by her attempts at killing him with eye contact, Solomon simply “reassures” her.
“If it is any consolation, this will make counseling for Lutrex easier due to location.”
“...He’s got a point there.”
Tanya looks at Cal with an unamused face as Solomon continues.
“There is still a matter of concern regarding her status as an irregular agent.”
“Since she has become an agent outside of a platoon of fellow cadets, she does not have a fireteam. This means that she is ineligible for housing until she is placed in one.”
“How does the process of forming a fireteam work, Father?”
“A person is placed with other agents based on their complementary personalities, skills, and roles that allow them to support one another in combat.”
“The formation of a fireteam is often done during the graduation of cadets, where they are partnered with members of their batch. Those who are left behind, such as yourself, have the privilege to be placed with veteran agents.”
“The process normally takes a month to look for matching agents. Which is why it would be good to have you move in with someone until you are placed in a fireteam.”
“I see.”
Lutrex looks down towards the floor, guilt forming on her face at the thought of living in someone’s home for a time.
“I would prefer to not be a burden-
“You are not.”
“You’re not.”
“You’re not.”
“You’re not.”
“-But if there is no other choice, I will accept it.”
“Good. Calian, you will be the one to house Lutrex until she has been placed in a group.”
The out-of-the-blue order given by Solomon caught Calian by surprise.
“What? Why me?”
“Because I have enrolled Lutrex in Brun University, and you are the nearest in terms of location. If you are wondering, we have discussed this.”
Everyone, save Lutrex, was surprised to hear the announcement come out of the drone. Tanya, out of concern for her niece, asks her regarding the decision.
“And you’re okay with this, Lutrex?”
“Yes, I am. Should I be discharged, I will have another occupation to fall back to. It is also a waste to not finish my education after graduating high school.”
After giving her reasons, everyone’s eyes now turn to Calian to wait for his response. Despite his reluctance, he agrees to the decision.
*Sigh* “Fine. It beats having her stay with a random stranger we don’t know. Or worse, someone I do know.”
Lutrex and Pancake bow to Calian out of appreciation for his kindness.
“I promise to behave when I arrive there, Uncle."
“I know you will. It's been a while since I had people over though... I’ll have to clean up when I get back.”
Persnickety chimes in on the conversation.
“I assume she will be sleeping in her own room, Uncle?”
“She can sleep on the floor.”
“I am fine with that.”
“That was a joke, Lutrex. You’ll be sleeping in my room.”
“Then where will you sleep?”
“The couch. It converts to a bed.”
“I see. Thank you again for your kindness, Uncle.”
Calian gives a thumbs up to Lutrex as Solomon continues to talk, facing the oni once more.
“Then it seems we are finished. Lutrex, do not forget to prepare when you arrive back home.”
“Understood.”
Lutrex then looks down towards her pendant, her face showing hesitation. She then looks up towards her father to say something.
“Father-”
“You wish to talk to me in private?”
She nods as Solomon looks at the others.
“I assume you three know what to do?”
Calian puts a hand on Lutrex’s shoulder before he leaves.
“I’ll pick you up when the time comes.”
“Thank you.”
Persnickety gives Lutrex a hug and a cheek pinch to a terrified Pancake. She also gives headpats to her father, who bobs in the air, before heading to the exit.
Calian walks towards the door and holds it for Tanya and Persnickety. Persnickety looks back towards Lutrex as she gives a final message before leaving.
“We’ll be at the hanger sis, take your time.”
She then sets her sights on her sister’s companion, who tenses at the gaze coming from his “eldest sister”.
“And Pancake~ I’ll make sure the both of us make up for lost time~”
She closes the door to leave the three of them in private, leaving the cephalopod pale white due to the promise. Silence fills the room until Lutrex works up the courage to ask.
“Father, I wanted to ask... What would Mother would think of me becoming an agent?”
“You seek her approval? Or perhaps her thoughts on your reason for joining Arkham?”
“Both.”
“Hmmm...”
Solomon floats closer to Lutrex, its optic staring directly at his daughter who showed nervousness from the silence.
“She would certainly disapprove of your choice to become an agent.”
Lutrex felt her heart pierced by the bluntness of her father’s words, her face showing the pain she felt. The drone was not finished speaking however.
“Why do you agonize? Is it not a mother’s duty to be against anything that would cause harm to their child? Do you wish that she had neglected you and your siblings instead?”
Lutrex snaps out from her sadness, shouting back to her father with a distressed look to counter its assumptions.
“No!”
Her eyes widened, realizing she raised her voice against her father. She looks down at the floor out of shame while correcting her answer.
“I mean... No, Father..."
Lutrex feels a tendril under her chin, forcing her head up to face her father’s eye.
“Do not talk to people without making eye contact with them. A lack of confidence is something others will exploit.”
“Yes, Father.”
“Now if you will allow me to continue...”
“She would disapprove, but she would support your decision fully. More so if it is a choice you believe in.”
Her eyes widened with surprise, caught off guard by the sudden shift in tone.
“The role of the mother, in her eyes, is to ensure their children grow up to leave the nest and live their own lives, regardless if it be perilous.”
The drone places a tendril on Lutrex’s vacant shoulder, mimicking a hand to comfort someone.
“She would be proud and honored by your choice of helping others, regardless of your reasons.”
Lutrex was speechless, tears threatening to fall until her father wiped them away.
“Save your tears for when you return home.”
She wipes away a tear before nodding, forcing herself to stop crying for now.
“Now, return back to the others. I will return to my work after I give back this drone.”
She reaches for the drone again, giving one last hug before letting it go.
“Goodbye, father.”
Lutrex turns around and exits the room, leaving her father behind. Once it was sure that Lutrex had left the area, it then accepted a call from Tanya.
[Solomon: “Is there a reason why you’re using a lavatory for the disabled, Ms. Klothilda?”]
[Tanya: “Wha? How did you- nevermind. I needed a place that didn’t have much use because I wanted to keep this talk a secret.”]
[Solomon: “I assume this is about Lutrex?”]
[Tanya: “Yes.”]
[Solomon: “...Give me a moment.”]
The conference room that Solomon resided in started to close its blinds on their own, the door became inaccessible to the outside and the lights were turned off. Satisfied with the privacy, Solomon continued the call.
[Solomon: “Explain.”]