Allison and Tyler talked until she, Robin and Oozie were ushered out of the room. It was about eight at night when they were leaving. She looked down at Robin who was being distracted by Oozie. Allison left the pair and tracked down one of the colonial affairs representatives from Sol System that had arrived to help deal with the influx of refugees to Eden Prime. It was a middle-aged woman who had a no-nonsense demeanor. Allison waved to her and smiled.

“Excuse me, ma’am, I have a young girl, her parents and family died on Yellowstone. Do you have any idea where she’s supposed to go? Robin Holiday?”

The woman checked her tablet.

“Lieutenant Allison Wanjala has taken her in for the time being, I will call her for you.”

Allison held up her hands.

“Ah, well I’m Lieutenant Allison Wanjala, and I’m sixteen, I really, legally can’t take anyone in.”

The woman looked a bit flustered.

“Well, how did this happen? You must have lied to someone. You are in serious trouble. We’ve already housed everyone.”

Allison held up her hands again.

“Just let me make a call.”

She opened a comm link to her mother. Apiyo was leaning on a table and coordinating. Allison loved how amazing her mom looked when she was being all governor-like.

“Allison, what is it?”

Allison bit her lower lip but decided to just rip the synthetic skin patch off.

“Mom, there was some mix up and a little girl doesn’t have a place to stay. Her family is dead, can we just take care of her for the night? Her name is Robin Holiday.”

Apiyo looked directly at Allison.

“A mix up?”

Allison shrugged.

“She was crying, Sister Silra took the rest of the children to their parents, Oozie was keeping her calm. I said I’d keep an eye on her until someone from colonial affairs or social services could take care of her.”

Apiyo put her hands on her hips.

“Well, I suppose we have to do our part too. You make sure she has a shower, eats a good supper, then tomorrow you’ll take her to the commerce complex and get her some clothes. I’ll send an email.”

Her mother was already typing on a holo-display.

“Bye mom?”

Apiyo nodded absently. Then she realized Allison was about to hang up.

“You almost gave me a heart attack last night. Never do that again.”

Allison rubbed the back of her neck.

“I will definitely try not to die again mom… sorry. See you at home?”

Apiyo shook her head.

“No, you’re on your own. Aryna is staying at the school to help and I’m going to be here all night. We have a lot of refugees to house and need to make sure families stay together. I am proud of you for helping with that little girl. I know how much children bug you.”

Allison blushed.

“See you when you get home mom.”

Allison disconnected the comm link. She heard a child screaming and when she heard Oozie’s deep bone jarring growl she knew which child it was. She rushed to see the woman from Colonial affairs trying to pull Robin away from Oozie who was having none of that. Robin managed to get free and dove under the woman’s reaching hands. The little girl glompped onto Allison’s legs. Allison pointed at Oozie.

“Don’t you dare bite her. This is a big enough mess as it is.”

The woman was beside herself and nurses, along with a pair of corporals who were on guard duty rushed in to see what the commotion was. The lead nurse for this part of the medical center looked at Allison and the woman.

“Ladies there are a lot of injured people here, have some decorum.”

The woman from colonial affairs pointed at Oozie, then at Allison.

“This beast accosted me, and she took a child in under false pretenses. She’s a child herself.”

The corporals saw who the woman was pointing at and nopped right the hell out of there. She waved her tablet.

“You can’t just leave, I’ll have you brought up on charges of dereliction of duty! She’s kidnapping a child.”

The corporals sighed at each other and turned around. Allison gave them a knowing look. The head nurse pointed towards the front foyer.

“I don’t care who is doing what, take this away from the patients immediately.”

Allison hefted the eight-year-old girl up into her arms. She wasn’t light but it seemed the only way to get the kid to move. She was mentally kicking herself for not just taking Robin home. Oozie kept herself between Allison, Robin and everyone else. She was in full guard-nargle mode. Once they’d all arrived the woman motioned to Allison.

“Now, get the girl and arrest her.”

The corporals had called in back up in the form of the master airman who would have been the highest duty NCO available in the evening. She looked rather displeased as she pulled off her military issue cold weather hat.

“This had better be serious corporal or you’re going to be plowing the runway for the next week.”

She noticed Allison.

“Ma’am. What seems to be the problem here?”

Allison gave a slight roll of her eyes in a very teenage fashion.

“Just a misunderstanding. I am trying to take Robin home so she can get some supper, and a hot shower, my mother has taken her in, this woman is saying I’m trying to kidnap her.”

The master airman looked like she was about ready to arrest the woman from Colonial affairs at this point. Allison was well respected by her fellow service men and women, mostly because she would do things like bring them hot drinks on cold nights, that and her father was well-loved here. She addressed the woman from Colonial Affairs.

“Ma’am, while we appreciate your assistance in dealing with the casualties and the refugees, if you continue to harass our members you will be escorted off base.”

The woman looked shocked.

“Me? I am trying to save this child from being kidnapped by this flippant teenage girl.”

The master airman wringed her woolen hat in her hands as she responded.

“Ma’am, this young woman, saved that little girl, and everyone else who is in this building from Yellowstone. Her mother is the planetary governor and this young lady is a respected officer held in high regard by everyone on this colony. If she says this girl should be going with her, I don’t need paperwork to tell me otherwise. I know she’s telling the truth. If it turns out she is mistaken, the worst thing that will happen is the girl is fed and has a warm bed tonight and someone can pick her up in the morning. Unless you’re suggesting she stay here alone, in this cold, drafty medical center all night.”

One of the corporal’s tapped the master airman’s shoulder.

“Master Airman, I just confirmed, that girl, is Robin Holiday and she is staying with the governor.”

The master airman looked at the woman from Colonial Affairs.

“Ma’am, I believe that sorts out this situation. If you’ll excuse all of us, we have patrol.”

She turned to Allison.

“Ma’am, do you, Robin and Oozie, need a ride home?”

Allison shook her head.

“No, I have dad’s truck here. Thank you, master airman.”

The master airman and the two corporals saluted her. It was a completely unnecessary gesture since Allison wasn’t in uniform. Allison took it for what it was, a sign of respect, she saluted them back awkwardly because Robin was not letting go of her. They left the Colonial affairs officer alone in the foyer.

Allison finally convinced Robin to get down when they reached the elevator to the tunnels. Oozie trotted on one side of Robin, herding her if she started to stray too far. Robin got close to Allison when they entered the dark and to a frightened eight-year-old, foreboding parking garage. Tonight, it was very quiet, most of the spots were empty. Everything except for the tanks and APC’s were missing. Thankfully with unlimited fusion power the lights were always on. It was just cavernous. Allison opened the passenger side door and pulled down the front seat. Oozie jumped in and curled up on the bench seat in the back. Allison pushed the passenger seat down. The tires were taller than Robin, so Allison lifted her up so she could stand on the foot bar. Robin sat down. Allison climbed into the driver’s side and pulled on her seat belt. Robin was watching Allison intently then mimicked her putting the seat belt on. Allison started the pick-up truck’s heavy duty electric motor. She backed up and pulled out then drove up the exit ramp.

Robin’s eyes went wide as they crested the top of the ramp and the blue light from the full moon made the snow sparkle and glisten. Allison glanced at Robin who had her face pressed against the passenger side window. Allison had to admit she loved clear nights after a fresh snowfall. When she was younger, she thought it turned Eden Prime into a magical world. That the sparkles were magical dust. She saw that sense of wonder in Robin’s eyes. While they waited in line for the exit gate behind several military all-terrain vehicles Robin looked over to Allison.

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“Is this what snow looks like for real?”

Allison nodded and quirked her head to the side.

“Have you never seen snow?”

Robin shook her head.

“It looks so sparkly like someone covered everything in glitter.”

Allison grinned.

“Yes, it does. Hopefully it will warm up and we can go out and play in it tomorrow with Oozie. She likes to throw it up in the air and try and eat it. Then she gets all cold and hogs the blankets after we go inside.”

Robin giggled. Allison pulled up to the exit gate and lowered her window. The cold wind made both girls’ shiver. The gate guard saw her. He waved at Robin then motioned with his head for Allison to go through the raised gate. Allison raised the window and shivered. She turned the heat up. The drive home was slow as the roads were fairly packed. Eden Prime had never seen so many colonists in the history of the colony, and it was only a portion of the refugees. Allison kept the radio on and did her best to keep Robin entertained with random snow facts.

By the time they’d pulled into the garage it was almost nine at night. Allison rushed Oozie and Robin into the house and turned the heat up. No one was warm, well except Oozie, but she always pretended to be freezing because she liked the fire. Allison also started a fire. She was kneeling down prodding the wood. Robin was absolutely transfixed it was like she’d never seen a real fire before. Allison realized that wasn’t so strange compared to people in domes. Her mother was from the twenty-first century and since she could remember fire was part of their lives, whether in the fireplace, or in the backyard when they could sneak them in before Eden Prime’s version of mosquitoes were prevalent during the summer. Wood was a precious commodity to those who lived in domes, or on jungle planets whose wood would not burn. Allison stood up and looked at Robin who was under a blanket, with Oozie.

“I will make us something to eat. I bet you’re not even close to tired…”

Allison washed her hands in the kitchen and then started turning all the lights on. Her mother turned everything off before she left the house. A habit formed in her youth when electricity cost money. In the thirtieth century the fusion generators were generating whether you turned them off or not. At least in colonial habitations. They weren’t designed to be shutdown like Bit’s was, you would get a year’s worth of warnings when they needed replacement and theirs was only twenty years into a fifty-year lifespan.

Allison checked the freezer. There was lots of frozen parts of meals but no pre-made meals. Pre-made meals were her specialty. Or reheating meals. There was nothing and she realized she was ill-prepared for such an eventuality. She doubted toast and peanut butter would be enough for either Robin or her. She put her hands on her hips and checked the fridge. There was fresh meat and produce but the magical spell that would put it all together was not one of her many skills. She pondered the MRE stash her father kept on hand. She shook her head. While they were an exotic treat for her when she was young, hardly proper for a growing young girl who hadn’t eaten in hours. She went to call her mother but then stopped.

Robin seemed to have thawed out sufficiently that she had gotten curious about what Allison was doing and joined Allison in the kitchen. She couldn’t see over the bar so Allison motioned to her and Robin came behind it into the kitchen. Allison lifted her up and put her on the breakfast bar. Robin giggled.

Allison went back to the fridge. Eventually she decided calling Eyre would be less embarrassing than calling her mother. And she could use the excuse that she wanted to make something special for Robin because Eyre had been something called a three star Michelin chef way back when, whatever that meant. She touched the wall holo-display in the kitchen to wake it up and opened a comm to Eyre. She was in her office in NAFTA dome, at least it appeared that way. Robin’s eyes went wide when she saw the tall neon buildings behind Eyre. Eyre looked up she gave Allison a you’re in trouble look but then noticed the extra attendee to the call.

“Hello Allison, I see you’ve brought a defense against an angry Auntie system onto the call. So, we’ll discuss your… recklessness later. Who is your new friend?”

Allison motioned to Robin.

“Auntie Eyre, this is Robin, Robin, this is my Auntie Eyre. Mom is letting Robin stay with us, Robin is from Yellowstone.”

Eyre put the tablet she was looking at down and smiled at Robin.

“Hello Robin. You’re very lucky. Apiyo is an amazing woman.”

Her eyes drifted to Allison.

“My sister has her charms to, when she’s behaving herself. So, how can I help you Allison?”

Allison tapped the counter with her fingers. Then she stood up and down on her tippy toes. Hmming and hawing before she finally spit it out.

“So, I wanted to make something special for Robin, since its her first night here. Could you help?”

Eyre saw right through her immediately she looked at Robin.

“She, can pilot multi-billion credit starfighters, plot forth dimensional wormhole jumps, weaponize asteroids but cooking a simple healthy meal from scratch is too much for her.”

Robin giggled. Allison blushed. Eyre shook her head at Allison.

“Send me what you have.”

Allison swept the fridge’s auto-inventory towards Eyre’s image. Eyre put down the next piece of transparent paper she’d been reviewing.

“Alright, Allison, I’ll walk you through something while I work. Pull the chicken out…”

Eyre patiently guided Allison through chopping everything up, preparing instant broth rice and then making an authentic Chinese style stir fry. By the time she’d finished the entire habitation smelled amazing. Eyre leaned forward.

“Allison, once Robin is in bed call me back. We have a lot to talk about.”

Allison nodded.

“I will, bye Auntie Eyre.”

She closed out the call. They ate it was amazing. After a shower Robin was very tired but could not sleep. Allison ended up sitting with her for an hour telling her different stories that Apiyo had told Allison when she was younger. Eventually Robin drifted off to sleep. Oozie had settled in on the bed beside her and was snoring soundly. Allison stood up and left the room. She looked at her own room and pondered sleeping. She sighed, went to the living room and called Eyre on the big display. At least that way she could enjoy the fire while her half-sister was listing off her many mistakes. Eyre was at home by this time and was cooking. She had a bunch of plastic containers arrayed on her counter. She looked up at her kitchen holo-display.

“Allison. Thanks for calling back. So, what is wrong?”

Allison looked confused, because she was confused. Eyre shook her head.

“You know how to cook; I know your mother taught you. So why did you call me?”

Allison sighed.

“I looked in the cooling unit and my mind went blank. I had no idea what I was doing, okay? I needed an adult.”

Eyre nodded and continued talking while she poured what looked like stew into the containers dividing it equally.

“Well, I’m making you some prepared meals. Just put them in the reheater and away you go. I’ll send them in a stasis crate on an Aurelius shipment to Andromeda tomorrow.”

Eyre put the pot down and leaned on her counter.

“Now, about your dying twice in less than a week. Allison, you were clinically dead for two hours last night. If Olga hadn’t injected you with something, you would not have come back. You are not indestructible. Your mothers were full versions of what you are and they still both managed to die. You need to be more careful, and you need to stop thinking like a human. You’re part vampire, you can move fast enough, you won’t get hit. And whatever it is that is resuscitating you when you die is getting weaker. You were dead for fifteen minutes the first time, this time it was two hours and you needed help. You need to go see your specialist and you need to see them soon and Maria is sending a replacement airframe for Bit. The maintenance crew on base there should be able to swap her parts to the new airframe. Next time try not to fly so close to a super-giant star that you have trouble getting out of the gravity well. I am sure there is more I should be telling you but my God Allison, you are almost as infuriating as my twin brother was.”

Allison blushed.

“I’m sorry Auntie Eyre.”

Eyre sighed.

“I am so proud of you. That you put others before yourself. That you are the best parts of your mothers, all three of them, but there are people who love and care about you Allison. You’re also my heir, so you need to understand there are people depending on you. If something happens to me, you will be Empress. The council, the vampires and the wolf-born need a strong hand to keep them in line. I had our mother who could push them into line when they got out of hand. You will have no one. This is bigger than one colony. Vampires are bloodsucking monsters, especially the… Children of Lilith as Empress you will be the keeper of the damned. It is not a pleasant job sometimes, but it is a necessary job. So, I am glad you can make sacrifices, but you need to remember the big picture.”

Allison got upset. The thought of being stuck keeping all the supernaturals in line made her feel sick to her stomach.

“Why can’t Aunt Maria do it?”

Eyre sighed.

“That is a very long story for a different time.”

Allison wasn’t ready to take no for an answer.

“No, tell me now, please.”

Eyre started preparing a new pot of something. Allison wasn’t sure what, but it involved a whole lot of canned tomatoes, some carrots and some sort of ground meat. Eyre didn’t say anything while she was straining the tomatoes out. She finally shook her head.

“Fine, you want to know all the family dirty laundry, you asked for it. In Rome, about sixty AD Our, Aunt, Mother, and Uncle along with a Roman Legion invaded the dead lands, it’s another dimension, like hyperspace, there they engaged in battle with an entity named Chronos, or the Black Son, our Uncle Lucius was possessed by Chronos, our Aunt Maria had her soul ripped from her body and mom was left holding all the pieces. The council wanted to execute Maria for violating a number of vampire laws. Isis abstained, mom voted against, everyone else voted for, maybe it was a power play, I don’t know. Mom vowed to kill every single one of them, and she only killed half of them. Grandfather could have vetoed them, but he didn’t, but he also didn’t kill Maria. So, while yes, she is his only living heir, she’s also barely accepted as a council member because half of the vampires still remember ordering her execution. So, are they scared she’s going to retaliate? Are they worried about her judgment? I have no idea, but mom being a god damned goddess was considered the true heir to our grandfather, so here we are, stuck keeping the lunatics from running the asylum. They don’t trust anyone else and once it came out that our mother was raised by Lilith, the Children of Lilith won’t accept anyone else as a legitimate ruler besides one of her children, daughter’s specifically.”

Allison blinked. That was a massive amount of information to unpack. The one thing she latched onto was Maria’s lack of a soul.

“Aunt Maria has no soul?”

Eyre looked at Allison.

“Of course she does. She eventually got it back, or it returned to her. Vampires aren’t living beings, if she was, she’d have been a vegetable until she died of old age. As it was, she lost most of her memories. She got most of them back now, but she still has senior moments from time to time, at least where the distant past is concerned. We all do, several thousand years is hard to remember in detail, well unless you’re, Amee, but look I will not die anytime soon, many have tried to kill me, all have failed, I expect a new series of attempts now that the truth has come out about you. Someone somewhere is going to think you’re easily manipulated. You are for lack of a better term, one of the most powerful heiresses in the System’s Alliance. If something happens to me, you will be the one with majority stake in Aurelius Corp, you will be the Empress and god forbid something happens to Maria…”

Allison shifted uncomfortably. Eyre was mixing the pot of ingredients together. Allison’s thoughts drifted to how good whatever Eyre was making must smell. Eyre put the lid on her pot.

“Look, putting it in concise terms, you are important. We have kept a lid on your ‘deaths’ so far, but if the council, or the board even catches a hint at how much danger you’ve been putting yourself in, you’ll be like Maria and I, and put in a gilded cage for your own safety. I don’t want that for you.”

Eyre rubbed her forehead with her delicate fingers.

“You are so much like me when I was your age. I was invincible. I could heal from injuries in minutes that would kill a normal person. I ran into a corrupted wolf-born, that is when I learned my lesson. I don’t want you to learn that lesson by experience. Do not keep pushing your boundaries. It will not end well.”

Eyre sighed.

“I’ll admit something to you that I have never admitted to anyone else. I regret my life choices. I have never been on a real date; I have never fallen in love. Yes, I was married but it was arranged, at best I tolerated the man. I have lost my chance at such things, I don’t want you to lose yours, and if you keep pushing yourself, if you keep focusing on everything but a social life, you’ll regret it. Take that from someone who is a hundred and seventy times your age.”

Allison felt really bad for Eyre. Seventeen hundred years and never falling in love? Did she ever have a crush? She wanted to hug Eyre but they were well over two million light years apart.

“Thanks, Auntie Eyre, I’ll remember what you said, I promise.”

Eyre looked up at her ceiling and wiped away the beginnings of some blood tears.

“I’ll have enough for a month of food delivered to your house by supper tomorrow. I love you, get some sleep you look tired.”

Allison waved and ended the call. She sat there in the dark habitation. The lights had turned off an hour ago based on her mother’s schedule. Only the fire was giving Allison any light and she decided she wanted to sleep there. With no mom who would slap her on the back of the head to tell her to go to bed she just wanted a cozy fireside sleep.