CHAPTER 5

Year: 04/8/2525

Planet: Sargasso

Location: Fairfield City, 4th precinct outskirts, Spencer Estate.

Amaranth rapidly tapped her fingers on the table and the heels of her feet on the floor, waiting for her parents to call her into the living room.

‘I can’t face them now! I’m not ready,’ Amaranth's inner voice trembled with fear and uncertainty.

‘It doesn’t matter whether or not you’re ready; they’re coming, and you will have to tell them anyway. So I suggest you prepare yourself. Shouldn’t you be excited to tell them? They’re your ‘friends’, right?’

‘It's complicated,’ answered Amaranth.

‘Are we going to do this again?’ deadpanned Nightstalker.

Amaranth looked down and tapped a bit slower. ‘Nightstalker, what do you think a friend is?’

‘From my understanding, a ‘friend’ is a long-time ally that you trust a little more and with more benefits,’ it stated like it was reading a dictionary.

Amaranth shook her head at Nightstalker’s clinical definition. “No, it was more than that.’

‘Hmmm, how so?’ it hummed.

‘Well,’ started Amaranth. The definition it gave was so clinical and cold, but then again, it's to be expected of Nightstalker based on the short amount of time she knew it. So, how can she explain the concept to a seemingly logical and cold being like Nightstalker? ‘Friends aren’t just long-time allies that you trust a little more and with benefits. True friends stick by you and support you no matter what. Someone who trusts you and you return the favor. Someone who would sacrifice their happiness for you. Someone who tells you the truth to protect you no matter how much it hurts.’

Amaranth looked up, staring at the ceiling lights, remembering a line Asuka had said. ‘True friends are the ones who say they’ll always be there for you and prove it,’ she quoted.

‘So a ‘true friend’ is someone you trust who, despite logic and reason, will watch out for their friends no matter what? Even if it would be more beneficial to cut off such ‘friendship’?’

Amaranth nodded, believing Nightstalker was starting to understand. ‘Friends also help each other grow. It's a two-way street. A give and take; otherwise, it's just one person taking advantage of the other. That’s not true friendship. Don’t your kind have an equivalent?’

‘Based on what you told me, the closest to what you describe is the bond between host and Klyntar. A successful and healthy bond results in growth, history, and purpose, but the difference is that a bond is more transactional, lacking human emotionality. It’s, as you humans say, ‘just business.’.’

‘That’s it? Is the bond just business? I get something, and you get something in return?’ asked Amaranth, a little disappointed.

‘It's complicated,’ threw back Nightstalker in such a way that Amaranth could already imagine its naturally wide smile becoming broader.

“We have our preferences, and a Klyntar is expected to stick to its hosts and fulfill any agreement, or at least until the host is safe and sound before moving on to another one. Having a tarnished reputation makes finding a host more difficult than it already is.’ Nightstalker paused. ‘Amaranth, Klyntar aren't humans. While Klyntar will take traits from their host’s species, some more so than others to the point of skittering the line, ultimately, we aren’t. We’re Klyntar. We think differently.’

‘I see,’ lamented Amaranth, but at least there’s a chance that one day Nightstalker will understand to an extent.

‘Anyway, you didn’t answer my question. Why are you nervous about telling your friend-’

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‘They’re not-’ Amaranth looked down crestfallen. ‘They’re not my friends.’

‘Why not? Don’t they fit all the criteria you listed? Based on your surface thoughts and memories, they meet your kind’s standard.’ asked Nightstalker.

‘I’ve known them for as long as I can remember, but, according to Mo-Jon and Amy, a month or so before’ started Amaranth. ‘I-Daisy was kidnapped; Samantha's and Martha’s parents arranged a playdate with the daughters of a co-worker and an old high school friend, respectively. From what little I remember, they got along pretty well and gave their parents a lot of headaches with their antics.’ Amaranth glanced toward her side. ‘Then Daisy was kidnapped. I remember them being a part of the search party when they found me near the fountain where I-Daisy usually played. They were so happy, especially Samantha.’ Amaranth smiled. ‘I still feel that bone-crushing hug, but then- you know what happened.’

‘Your genetic flaws started to manifest.’

Amaranth nodded. ‘Yes, I had many friends throughout the years, and for one reason or another, they stopped seeing me as my condition worsened. Some moved away, transferred to a different school, or we simply drifted apart, but Samantha and Martha stood by me. They gave up so much for me when I couldn’t do any physical activities we used to do-’ Amaranth choked, wiping the tears from her eyes.

‘I know they want to do so much more, but they couldn’t because I weighed them down, but they never complained; instead, they did their best to accommodate me. Even if I tell them, it's OK to do whatever they want to do without me.’ Amaranth leaned forward, placing her elbows on the table, clutching her hair, tears falling on the cloth. ‘One time, Samantha and Martha wanted to go try the new rock climbing wall at the Eastside mall, but I was sicker than normal and couldn’t go out to watch them. I told them to go without me, but they refused and instead came over and found something we can all do together.’

Amaranth wiped her face, and a small smile graced her features. ‘We marathoned the first season of Shadowkaiser and Space Police Quantum Fire.’ Amaranth frowned, slamming her fist onto her table with surprising strength, causing the silverware to vibrate off the table. Nightstalker caught it and placed it back in its spot. ‘They did it thinking I was Daisy. I’m not Daisy! Our entire friendship is based on a lie! It's just something else I stole from her.’

Nightstalker scoffed. ‘You’re being illogical; you’re blowing it out of proportion a minor issue. They know you, not Daisy. They only knew Daisy for only a short time, and they knew ‘you’ for years. So by the standards you laid out, they’re your friends.’

‘Doesn’t change the fact I lied to them and stole Daisy’s friends and family. Friends don’t lie or steal from each other.’

Nightstalker growled in evident frustration. ‘You humans and your emotionality make things so needlessly complicated. You didn’t intend to lie or steal, so what’s the problem?’

Before the conversation could go any further, the sound of voices came from the doorway leading into the living room. “Jon, what’s this all about? You promised an explanation. You’re not acting like your usual self, and you left work so suddenly and with barely a word. Ms. Abramov is not happy about that, to put it mildly.” Said a baritone voice pointedly. Amaranth recognized the voice as Mr. Kimbell’s.

“Also, Where’s Daisy, Mr., and Mrs. S? She’s usually the first one to see us,” piped up a raspy, sorta scratchy, feminine voice Amaranth instantly recognized as Samantha’s. “I wanted to show her some new designs for my character so we can see who has the best one!”

“Ow, watch the volume. Are you tryin’ to give everyone Tinnitus?” jested a softer voice Amaranth recognized as Martha’s.

“Hey, I wasn’t that loud,” Samantha retorted, but the tone made it clear it was more out of levity rather than genuine indignation.

“Tell that to my ringing ear,” snarked Martha.

Amaranth couldn’t help but let a small smile grace her face. Those two tend to bicker sometimes, but it was all good fun.

“She’s probably upstairs,” suggested a youthful voice she recognized as Maxine’s. “Sometimes she takes a nap during this time of day.”

“Something happened with Daisy,” started Jon, and with that, the room went silent.

A panicked Samantha broke the silence. “What happened?! What happened to my friend!? Did she- Did she-”

“No. Thank God, no. But something did happen. Something extraordinary, ``explained Amy, holding back a sob.

A voice similar to Samantha’s spoke up. “Amy, what happened?” asked Courtney worriedly.

“A miracle,” Amy breathed out.

“Miracle?” repeated Maxine in a puzzled tone. “What do you mean?”

“It's best that we show you. Daisy, you can come now!” called Jon.

Amaranth’s stomach dropped. It was time, but her legs refused to move, suddenly feeling like they were made of lead, and her heart thumped in her chest, feeling like it could burst out her chest like that alien from an old sci-fi movie Jon showed her a few times.

‘Amaranth, get up. You’ll have to start acting normally to avoid arousing suspicion from your… loved ones.’

Amaranth took a calming breath and stood up.