Robin kept rubbing her arm where she’d had the injections, she wasn’t really paying attention to the arm though. Her eyes were on the sky. It was late afternoon and so it was dark by now. It was a very clear night. Because the Eden star was so large and so bright it didn’t take much for something to appear to glow in the sky, especially at night. Robin pointed at something.
“I see something. Its moving.”
Allison didn’t have to look. Any capital ships in orbit of Eden Prime that were on the nightside were easily seen from the surface because of the reflected star’s light.
“Those are starships. They’re up there ready to stop the bugs if they come here. I bet that is the Decimator and her fleet. A battle carrier, two battleships, two escort carriers, four cruisers, and eight destroyers. Forty Athena class starfighters, eighty Mark VI starfighters, twenty obliterator hover tanks, two thousand space marines, eighty goliath power armors and other things, like drop ships and armored personal carriers.”
Robin grinned. Allison could tell none of it meant anything to the girl but it seemed that Allison just answering any question she asked with something more than, it’s the devil, made her happy.
“You know so much.”
Allison blushed slightly.
“No, I don’t know anything really. I’m just obsessed with starfighters, and ships, I have been since I could talk, if my babu, my grandfather isn’t lying to me.”
They pulled into the commerce center and parked underground once again. In the summer Allison usually wouldn’t bother because it cost credits, but frankly it was too cold for her to worry about the ten credits. Allison ditched her coat, gloves and hat in the truck. Robin mimicked Allison and they went into the center with Oozie in tow. The nargle had caused a stir when she first came to the center with Allison, but security was familiar with her and how cranky she could get if someone tried to move her away from Allison by force. The center was busy this afternoon. It was the biggest building on the colony so in the winter if one wanted to walk, it was where one walked.
Robin was wide-eyed for the whole walk towards the food court. Allison put her hands on her hips and looked around. She already knew what she was getting but Robin would be a challenge, she had gone from living a primitive subsistence lifestyle to the land of plenty. All Allison knew was that she had to moderate Robin’s food intake, which hadn’t been a problem so far, and that Robin needed to eat.
“Well, shorty, anything look good?”
Robin spun around looking at all the neon lights and taking in the various aromatic scents of the food court. She looked confused.
“How do I decide? What should I get?”
Allison pointed at Chicken-Chicken, Chicken Dinner.
“If you want my advice. Start on the left and move right until you try them all. It’s what I did. So, Chicken Dinner. Chicken Nuggets and veggies n’ dip is a personal favorite of mine.”
Allison thought to herself, when I was eight. She was eying Curry Palace. Not only for herself, but for the chicken giblets for Oozie that they always happily sold her. It occurred to Allison on several occasions she was paying them to take out their trash, but Oozie loved them, so she always just let it go and convinced herself it was a tip, because she was one hundred percent sure the crew working there split the credits amongst themselves. They always seemed so excited when she showed up.
“What is chicken?”
Allison rubbed the back of her neck.
“Ah, it’s the same thing as we ate last night, just cut to look like different animals and less rice.”
Robin nodded.
“Chicken Nuggets!”
Allison walked up to the counter and placed the order. She asked for water to drink. She had no wish to add to Robin’s dental woes, or hazard lactose intolerance. Who knows if the child had ever had cow’s milk? She got Robin seated and pointed at a spot beside her.
“Stay there Oozie, and do not beg for food from Robin or anyone else or no giblets for you.”
Allison pointed at her eyes with two fingers then back at Oozie. Oozie’s tail kept starting and then stopping mid wag. Being a very intelligent quadruped, she knew what was coming next. Allison returned and put about ten chickens’ worth of chicken giblets and undesirable parts down. Oozie dove in with zeal. Allison started eating her curry. Robin was well on her way through the children’s meal by the time Allison had gotten back. Robin finished hers and looked at Allison’s bowl.
“What’s that?”
Allison looked at her bowl.
“Oh, this is five alarm butter chicken. Do you want to try some, it’s sort of spicy.”
Robin nodded, Allison offered her a fork full of rice and chicken. Robin licked her lips afterwards but then started to wave her hand in front of her mouth and finally she gulped her water down. That seemed to take the heat away.
“It burned my mouth.”
Allison nodded.
“Yes, it is spicy, it is the only thing close to Hir’nah’gakt I can get.”
Robin desperately tried to ask what hir’nah’gakt was but could not wrap her mouth around the very Silwrath word. Allison giggled.
“It is a very spicy lizard meat dish that my friend introduced me too. Her name is Nutina. She’s a Silwrath. A lot of their food reminds me of UK dome food. Like whoever created it did it so people could dare other people to eat it.”
Once again half of Allison’s references went right over Robin’s head, so she went with a simpler answer.
“I like when it burns like this. After eating on a Silwrath ship for a week nothing really burns enough anymore.”
Robin giggled. The little girl’s eyes drifted around the food court. Allison knew exactly where Robin’s eyes locked onto. It was her favorite when she wanted a treat. She was dubious about all that sugar and the eight-year-old but sighed. Gingerbread house was the home of the most decadent and high calorie desserts you could imagine. Oozie was still chomping away. Allison pointed at her.
“Just stay here and eat, not that I have to tell you that.”
She stood up and motioned to Robin.
“Come on, shorty, we can have one dessert each, but it has to be small. I want some teeth left after tonight.”
Robin leaned over the counter with her eyes wide looking at all the different desserts. Allison tapped Robin’s shoulder.
“Point at the one you want.”
Robin pointed at a piece of black forest cake. Allison bit her lower lip and finally decided on the raspberry cheesecake. She paid and they ate. Allison tried to avoid Gingerbread house, so she savored every bite of hers. Robin devoured hers. It occurred to Allison that with her nanites gobbling up every bit of excess energy her body consumed that she could likely eat as much Gingerbread house as she wanted and never gain weight. It was a tempting thought but she decided she didn’t want to tempt fate and burst out of her gown in two months in the middle of the masquerade.
“Well time to go shopping. So, school bag, holo-tablet, translator and some clothes. Some hair ties, and if you keep behaving so well, we can stop by Pick-a-friend. You don’t have any stuffies and every little girl, and big girl, needs at least one stuffie to cuddle with.”
The shopping trip was uneventful save for a hasty call to Eyre so Allison could access some of her reward funds, which her half-sister authorized immediately when she was told it was so Allison could spoil Robin with a trim, holo-phone and stuffie. They were pretty exhausted by the time they reached Pick-a-friend. It was near closing time so the center had become deserted in the last half an hour. Allison watched as the girl working the counter, who she recognized as a senior from her school helped Robin leaf through the different stuffies they could fabricate. They had all kinds of options programmable voice lines, heated stuffies, boyfriend smell stuffies, Allison Wanjala and her fighter stuffies. Allison blinked a few times and rewound her video feed. Yep, her, her fighter, or both of them. With recorded voice lines. She muttered.
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
“I hate my life.”
The Indian girl whose name was Kelpi snickered.
“Oh, I think they’re cute.”
She cried out in a cutsie voice.
“For the System’s Alliance!”
Allison groaned.
“Please tell me you haven’t sold many.”
Kelpi looked at Allison.
“They are very popular among little girls, and younger teenage boys.”
Allison’s shoulders slumped.
“I just threw up in my mouth a little.”
Kelpi leaned over and flipped back a few pages on her screen.
“They are our fourth highest selling series, companywide. Or so the description says. You should get one.”
Allison giggled when she thought of having one delivered to Tyler with no note or anything she started nodding.
“Just the one of me, no fighter. With all the voice lines.”
Kelpi put the order in, Robin was now choosing between two. One of the Dark Mother and another of a cuddly looking red Silwrath. She finally picked the Dark Mother one. Allison paid for their purchases. She waved at Kelpi.
“See you at school.”
Kelpi waved and started locking up. The same ritual was being performed across the commerce center. Allison and Robin were the last customers out. Allison had planned on getting home, getting supper, going to see Tyler again, but the universe and her unplanned gig as a babysitter and big sister stand in had aligned against her. Aryna was sitting on the couch eating one of the six dozen prepared meals Eyre had sent them. The rest had obviously been put away in the stasis cabinet or the freezer. Each had its benefits, stasis it was just as warm as it was when it was put in, but it just tasted weird after more than a week. Freezer could last years but you had to reheat it.
Aryna put her lasagna down and bounded over to tightly hug Allison which elicited a cute cry of For the System’s Alliance from the Allison stuffie. Aryna looked at it.
“Is that you?”
Allison nodded. Aryna’s hands went to her mouth, and she let loose a chorus of musical laughter. When she could finally speak again she looked at Robin who was staring up at the silver haired Queen.
“And you must be our new little sister. I am Queen Aryna Qualistori and it is my most genuine pleasure to meet you.”
Allison shot Aryna a look when she said, ‘new little sister’. She was pretty sure this was not a permanent arrangement, and she did not want to give Robin the wrong impression. Robin clutched the Dark Mother stuffie to herself.
“Are you really a Queen?”
Aryna smiled.
“I am.”
Robin was staring at Aryna’s slender pointed ears. Aryna pushed her long silver hair behind her ears and kneeled down.
“You may touch them if you’d like. I don’t let just anyone touch them, but since you are my little sister now, you are allowed.”
Allison gritted her teeth. Sometimes Aryna was infuriating. This was one such occasion. Robin reached out her hand and touched the point. Aryna stood up.
“Allison, your armor, and pistols were returned. I put them in your room. Auntie Eyre sent a lot of food for us, I put enough for tomorrow in stasis and put the rest in the freezer, and mom isn’t going to be home tonight. So, it’s just the four of us. Oh, and that Robin’s bedtime was an hour ago so she can get into a good sleep schedule for when school starts, but I guess you were late getting to the commerce center.”
Oozie had wasted no time flopping down in front of the roaring fire which Aryna had finally been shown how to tend properly. Allison groaned and put her stuffie down. She motioned to Robin.
“Well mom has spoken. Eight-thirty bed time it is, time to go wash your hands and face, then go to bed.”
Robin stood there not moving. Allison looked at her.
“Is something the matter?”
Robin squeezed her stuffie.
“Can you come with me and check for bugs?”
Allison held up her finger and wandered off. Oozie wandered off into the house. When Allison came back, she was in her armor and had one of her pistols in her hand.
“Alright, let’s go clear your room.”
Robin giggled. Allison pressed her back against the wall and inched along it towards the guest room. Robin was mimicking her. Allison got close and put her finger to her mouth and then held it up. She peeked around the corner and crept inside then looked into the washroom with her pistol pointed towards the far wall. Then she checked the bathtub and the shower. She crept back into the guest room, holstered her pistol then stopped in her tracks and held out her hand to stop Robin. Then she pointed her finger at the bed.
“Shh, something’s there.”
Oozie’s white tail was thumping on the bed giving her away. Allison turned on the lights and jumped on the bed rubbing Oozie all over.
“Oh, it was just a boring old Oozie waiting to ambush us with kisses.”
Robin giggled again and jumped on the bed. She buried her face in Oozies fur. Allison kept petting Oozie and pointed to the bathroom.
“Alright, so, every night before bed, we wash our faces, we wash our hands, and we brush our teeth. Oozie won’t sleep with you if you don’t brush your teeth she absolutely hates bad breath.”
Allison whispered.
“Sometimes I skip that last one so I get the bed to myself, but you should brush yours, because if anyone can protect you from bugs, its Oozie. I’m not sure who will protect you from her kisses, but you win some you lose some, right?”
Robin nodded and started washing up. Allison watched her trying to figure out the toothbrush thing.
“Just hold up. I will get Aryna, and we’ll all brush our teeth together.”
Allison did as she promised and Robin stood between the two teenagers mimicking their tooth brushing and spitting out the toothpaste. Robin licked her teeth after she finished.
“It tastes and feels weird.”
Allison tapped her chin and pretended to be deep in thought.
“You know what, maybe toothbrushes aren’t your thing. You need Butt fruit worms.”
Robin made a face.
“Butt worms?”
Allison nodded.
“Yes, you put them in your mouth and they gobble up all the stuff that gives you bad breath then you eat them. Not my personal choice, but Aryna uses them sometimes.”
Aryna nodded. Allison shuddered. She had no clue how her Qual’sa friend… sister could even consider it. Numerous Silwrath had offered her a worm and swore by them, but Allison had her limits and that was, worms in her mouth, or her stomach. Robin looked disgusted by the idea. Allison shrugged.
“Well, it’s a toothbrush and paste or butt fruit worms. Teeth gotta get cleaned in this house. Mom is really strict. When I was young and used to forget, she’d threaten me with butt fruit worms. She’d say you know who doesn’t forget to clean your teeth? Butt fruit worms!”
Aryna frowned at Allison. Aryna rarely approved of most forms of dishonesty. Allison ignored her. Robin put her toothbrush in the holder.
“No worms. I’ll brush!”
Allison ushered Robin towards her bed. Robin crawled in. Allison glanced at Aryna who was leaning on the guest bedroom’s doorframe. She looked back at Robin who was snuggling under her blanket with the Dark Mother stuffie clutched to her chest in a tight hug.
“Robin, I know you’re eight, so you’re too big of a girl to get tucked in or get a bedtime story but Aryna and I would love to try it. Just this once? We’ve never had a little sister before.”
Robin giggled and nodded. Allison pulled the blanket up and sat on the bed. Aryna joined her.
“So, what story do you want to hear? Sword wielding Qual’sa knights protecting their Queen from vicious fire breathing dragon-things? A story about a princess?”
Robin squished the Dark Mother plushie.
“One of the Dark Mother’s.”
Allison bit her lower lip. She was kicking herself, she’d just replaced one dumb religion with another. At least the Dark Mother empowered people to question everything and love, not hate. She tapped her legs.
“Okay, a long time ago in the milky way, there was a lush planet that orbited a giant red star. The people who lived on that planet call it the life giver. The orange sphere. They prospered. They gave praise to the orange sphere. Give us life they would cry, and the orange sphere would make their plants grow. Then one day the sky got very dark.
Allison held her hand in front of the bedside lamp casting a dark shadow over the bed.
“Save us greatest of the spheres, protect us from this darkness, they cried out. The orange sphere did nothing. It was a star, of course it did nothing.”
Allison moved her hand closer to the lamp making the room almost pitch black.
“The sky grew black during the day. The people despaired. For now, even during the day the great orange sphere was hidden from them. The ground started to shake.”
“They gathered to watch the end of their world as the darkness that blotted out their glorious orange sphere, started to carve their world in half. Then suddenly…”
Allison pulled out her hover light and turned it on lowering it. Robin was watching all of this intently.
“From the black of the heavens a bright golden light streaked down and a beautiful woman the likes of which they had never seen appeared in the path of the darkness that was their worlds doom. She wore platinum armor, and in her large black wings they could see wonders they could not have imagined, with hair as silver as Aryna’s. She reached up her hand and a staff of the purest white light appeared. She slammed the staff which was now made of shimmering gold into the ground and she shouted, Darkness will not win this day!”
Allison took her hand away from the bedside lamp. Robin was the exact opposite of sleeping now. She was perked up. Allison sighed inwardly but continued.
“The darkness evaporated. The destroyer stopped at her feet and the ground shook no more. The angel, for that is what she was, flew upwards and then landed on an impossibly tall rock and slammed her staff into the ground once again.”
Allison hooked the hover-light on her belt.
“She declared, within this rock that the destroyer made in his war against the light, you will build a temple of peace. I am Seraph, Archangel of the Universe, Avatar of Creation, here my staff will stay until I return to take it up again. I will be pink of flesh, red of fur and my eyes will be the brightest green. I will come from a sphere far from here. I will speak of the Dark Mother to you because that is just another of my many names. I will take the guise of a boundary walker. A being of darkness and light. For only by understanding the darkness may I defeat it. You will know me by the ancient image cast into this rock at the beginning of time. On that day, when I pick up this staff, you will know I have returned and that our final victory against the darkness is near.”
Allison glanced at Robin who was still wide awake.
“The people cheered. She held her hands out to silence them. Hear my words, no victory is absolute, for where there is light, there must always be shadow. You, my chosen guardians, will find this to be fact in time. Only those who walk in both worlds will know my truth. Know my guardians that my time will pass as all things must pass, but I will send you my mortal daughter, she who remains, she will lead you into the next battle against the darkness. She will be sister to a Queen, daughter to an Empress, a destroyer of worlds, an arbiter of war, and a bringer of peace. Only through her might I return to you. Only through her will the secrets long buried beneath this stone be revealed. Go now, my guardians, take stock of what you have lost, take heart in what you have gained this day, for through me, you are given something most precious, a second chance.”
Allison put her hands on her lap.
“The rock she stood on is now called the Temple of the Universe and it is the world that is home to the Sauroids, like Sister Silra. Seraph, was the Dark Mother in her true form.”
Robin blinked.
“None of that is in the book! Did she come back for the staff? Did she beat the darkness?”
Allison put her hands on Robin’s
“That is a story for another time.”
Robin pouted.
“Time to sleep.”
Aryna smiled and started to sing. Allison’s heart caught in her chest, she always forgot just how beautiful Aryna’s voice was. Robin struggled to stay awake, but the spell Aryna wove through her voice and with her telepathy proved too much for the overtired eight-year-old.