[Oded's Place: Habitat D1234]
As Odelia enters Odedi's little Kitchen-Dining-thing. She's greeted by some of the tastiest smells ever.
Her boy is sitting at the table. Eating a hot pie. He turns to her and smiles after she enters.
"Hey mom, at first I just made a cold cake, but then…" He raises a shoulder, as if he just happened to want all of her comfort foods.
She closely observes the island in which all the food is served. It's silvery, some purple, too.
"Your- System told you I had a nervous breakdown. Didn't it?"
He takes a sip of honey sweetened black tea. She can see a bit of the steam, leaving drops of water on his face. Smell the tea.
She observes his cup. It looks like wood. He always liked wood carved utensils as a boy, he-. She takes a breath…
Her boy in seconds goes from a man trying to diplomatically remind his mothers that he is in fact obligated to do just that…
To a young man who is very, very worried for his mom.
She can be so selfish sometimes.
Her last thought before blacking out is,
*Wow, that was narcissistic.*
…
Oded has stayed by his mom's bedside almost all night.
He left only to eat, toilet, and call Grandma and Grandma.
…
[Low Earth Orbit: Susan and Arthur's Place]
Susan is going through all the rooms, and packing all kinds of things. Anything that may be good, may help her little girl.
"Honey, what are you doing?"
She turns to her husband. Just a bit angry.
"I am making sure we can bring out little girl anything she nee-"
He raises a hand to interrupt her.
He looks up.
"*homegirl,* when are we going to reach Oded's place?"
The system answers promptly.
"Within two hours predock-angular-reorientation sequence will engage, within 30 minutes *Our Home* will dock at Oded's Place."
He smiles at her.
She narrows her eyes at him.
"Tell no one." At that she drops everything in her hands. She looks up.
"Homegirl, please clean my mess here."
"Yes." Several server bots come in and begin to take things to their place.
As she looks at them cleaning up, she turns to Arthur.
"Remember before our grandson helped to make those robots cheap enough?"
He hugs and kisses her.
"Yeah when his mother was small, it was only worth it to buy them for industry, critical maintenance, and void work.-"
His hug is just a bit tighter. For a moment.
"Back then, it was all robot vacuum and the like. Now…"
Susan nods, next to him.
"He did good. She's a good mother."
She sighs, her hands are empty. Arthur pets her neck.
After a moment, they go to the kitchen for coffee.
…
Rennard is having breakfast. An omelet, a grilled cheese sandwich, and hot tea.
Just as it should be.
As he's chewing on a bite of egg, a ring from the speakers lets him know he's getting a call. And that it is about the boss.
He's alone, so he finishes chewing and…
"Yes, Oded? Is the B-sorry, Odelia OK?"
His wrist lets a crack as he hears the answer.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
"After a fashion, yes. She's sleeping right now, it looks like she did not properly rest in-"
He hears that intake of breath.
"A while."
Rennard looks down at his now seemingly pointless breakfast.
"I see, do I need to bring a reserve into action? Or just postpone the game tomorrow."
He hears nothing but his own breath for a few moments.
"Postpone, then we'll see, ok? I just,-"
Rennard smiles wanly.
"Dude, look after your mom. It will be fine."
"Thanks, I just wish I could tell what would be best there, but…"
Rennard sighs, it sounds a bit lagher.
"Dude, You didn't actually just talk with your mom in years. I will not say to enjoy it. But, you know…"
Over the line, Oded, her boy, sounds almost crying.
"Yeah, I get it. Thank you."
And he hangs up.
Rennard takes the next few minutes to finish the meal, while trying to think how to formulate how he breaks this to the team. The public will actually be easier than that by loads.
…
[D1230- Benny's place]
Ben-Benny-*Ben* is going over it all.
It looks like since his last days here these people have gone Sloth.
Looks like Oded has had even more achievements that he didn't bother to talk about.
And these people just… let his advancements carry them…
He has no idea what they were thinking.
And Oded, his whole saintly family have that whole narcissistic guilt going on. And he wants to marry into that drama…
Well, that's simple, he's pretty sure each of those lonatics would give their literal heart and call it a bargain if it saves someone they love.
He'll just need to convince Oded th-… Oh Fuck, he might as well be one of them already.
Mom did warn him…
Anyway, first, he needs to tell Clara to send alerts of all those not happening updates, and why they actually matter.
Then he'll go over exactly *what* Those murderers and rapists have been doing it. Because it is better to first plug the holes, and then actually upgrade the dam.
…
[Auschwitz Is Hell: Simulation Interface Management Center]
Rosalie gaps at the mail from the legacy consultant.
"That Douchebag. Ron, have you seen this?"
Ron, who works from home today, answers over the speakers.
"Yeah. I mean, I don't like it but.-"
Still gaping, she turns her face to the speakers.
"But nothing- You were over worked for months here, the only one who even *could* work on these, and that walking, talking, turd said you're lazy!!"
He sounds a bit happily taken aback. Which breaks her heart.
"He didn't actually word it like that. You know he just… Said I consistently were late at my tasks that is why those, 'Native League Psychos' could crack those early keys in their simulation space."
She narrows her eyes on that.
"And neglected to mention how you've for the last year and a half constantly warned about just this happening, because you're one person. And the rest of us are in charge of completely different aspects and can't, no matter how much we may want to, can't help you."
"Hey, I didn't know you care."
"You're my best friend. And you promised me to be the best-maid when you marry Corry."
She sighs for a bit, makes sure her actual is properly complete, and he-.
"If I was in there with you, I'd go get you that chocolate bar you're half addicted to.
…
Ben continues to go over the info pack he was given and… he goes over that part again and again.
He even had Clara go over it. And he never thought he would see something like this.
He is a proper, well educated adult, he has long affects a cultured air of earned aristocracy. Because he literally did.
But in this monent.
Fuck that.
"Clara, open recording for our target."
A red circle on the wall shows the recording began.
"YOU. FUCKERS!! I JUST WASTED NEARLY 24 HOURS ON A DATASAT SO PARCIAL, IT MIGHT AS WELL WOULD HAVE BEEN FALSE!! DID YOU THINK I WILL NOT FIND THE EDITING!!!
YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO LITERALLY,-" He coughs. He's not actually used to bellowing.
"You are there to train people away from such behavior. That is. That is not acceptable."
He calms down. Waves the recording done.
The red circle vanishes. A bip shows it was sent. And he begins to word the next, actually proper and useful message.
…
[The Royal Palace, Along the The Path of Divine Authority]
Empress Shalar Vy; The Beauty and grace of
Seliny Christal;
The Core and Jewel of all that actually matters.
She is rather cross. She forgot how slow conquest of primitives can be. Just getting to them. Without the Divine Authority paths to impart her grace. She went along the whole path twice already, and still.
Not even a word, and her truth whisperers say, that only now the basic word of her fleet beginning to slow down for arrival at her new territory will be *sent to her.*
She needs something to take her mind off this. She gets up from her wind pillow.
"Local chalister, to mee!!"
A Belicy; of their sterile sex, enters her room.
"Yes, Our Star Grace?"
The pathetic thing is bent in half for her.
Which helps.
"Yes, we are arriving into your world, yes? I want you to give me a list of how your kind have accrued problems in my absence."
Its pink round face gave her the proper smile, it bent down even more.
"Of course star blessing. A list will be sent at your pleasure as soon as I have access to it."
At this, she nods, as magnanimous as such a thing is worthy of any goodwill from herself.
"Good, I Am waiting."
It runs. Good.
…
[Heart of the Solar System: Solar Processor Station Medusa: Information Manager Nathan Harrow Personal Quarters]
Natty and Igor are sitting at his own living room.
Natty gestures at Igor's empty cup of Coffee.
"Want another drink?"
Igor smiles. "Yeah, thanks. Can't believe we actually finished all of these games eventually."
Natty sighs. "Yeah, sorry I sound sad about it, it's just been a while since I had a friend who liked Earth sports in the same room as me. Everyone else here likes space sports."
Igor nods at that. "Hey, I like 'Void Wars' as much as the next guy, but yeah. Everyone I know treats earth Sports like you treat a tourist trap habitat that cycles between Earth, Mars and the Asteroid belts."
Natty gloomily nods at that.
"So, another coffee, or a cold electrolyte tea."
Igor thinks for a moment.
"Tea. And don't worry. I don't come here to just watch sports. You're a good company."
Natty snorts.
"Please, I saw that thing you do your rounds at."
Igor nods, smiling a bit, somewhat flushed.
"Yeah, your burgers are great too. But the point stands."
And Natty stands just a bit taller.
…
After two hours, Igor leaves to go back on his current cycle. And Nilly rings to come visit.
"Yeah, Nilly?"
She opens the door and gets in.
"Just came to see how it goes with your new friend?"
Natty finishes cleaning the table, then turns to her. "First, yes, it's fine with him, he's coming here next week to play old Computer games with me. He wants the first Duke Nukem, I want the first Grand Theft Auto."
At her smile, he asks her.
"Why do you care though?"
She blinks at him.
"You getting a friend is the first new thing to happen here that isn't about work. Updates, and stellar plasma element ratio fluxuations."
He's about to retort about it, but..
"Yeah, fair."
He thinks for a moment. "Want to play?"
She begins to nod for a negative, but as she begins to speak she freezes.
"You know what, sure, got any of the Persian Prince?"
He smiles and looks in his library of games.
"Yup. Want to do this here, or at the plaza? You and I are the only ones not on the clock and actually here, everyone else, went to that Space league thing, with the new captain whatever."
At that Nilly blinks, and seems to struggle to keep a smile from turning into a snort.
"Oh, if Damian would hear that, he would try again to tie you up like that comic book character his mom named him for."
Natty just rolls his eyes, like the little twerp could pull that off. Again.
Then he smirks at the memory.
…
[Nine personal years ago for Natty, at the Station]
Damian is sitting with Shay and Aviad at the lounge.
Aviad takes a sip of his beer. "I can't believe you got away with that "
Damian smirks. "No. Proof, No Crime."
Then he bends over in pain. And lets out a long flatulent sound.
The other two share a look. And put down their beers.
Shay is the one to say it.
"You should really apologize. Or even just, not retaliate."
Damian will not be able to actually talk for the next two hours. When later asked about it by Internal investigators, he said that he doesn't wish to investigate it.
Which was smart, because while an investigation would have gotten Natty reprimanded, it would have documented all the ways he made sure Damian was not in any danger beyond his ego.
Damian almost killed Natty and Natty survived by luck. Damian would have been sent to a crucible. And afterwards would have had to start socially from scratch.
…
[Heart of the Solar System: Solar Processor Station Medusa: Information Manager Nathan Harrow Personal Quarters]
That memory is still sweat. As he refocuses on the Now, Nilly smirks at him.
Is that memory as fun as I imagine?"
Natty raises his brows.
"Yes." His smile is pure. Pure evil, but pure nonetheless.
…