Warm tungsten light reflected across the study room's sleek, gleaming hardwood surfaces within the luxurious Williams estate. The room was a work of art in its own right, with shelves and cabinets of rich mahogany and intricate carvings lining the walls. The room was filled with the scent of leather and old books. It was a place of quiet and tranquility.
But, the peaceful atmosphere was shattered by a woman's voice booming through the room.
"Garrett, did I hear it right?" Nicole bellowed through the projected video call on Garrett's Psion bracelet, her prehensile hair thrashing about in her fury. "That you nearly turned our daughter into a vegetable!"
Garrett sat quietly in his study. He could feel the weight of his wife's anger bearing down upon him. He had never seen his wife so angry before, not even in the midst of the most heated arguments. From the rage emulating her, he knew that he had made a big mistake in using his powers on their daughter.
"I’m sorry, Nicole," Garrett said, his voice low and remorseful. "I acted on instinct and in the moment. I didn't mean to hurt our daughter."
"How could you?" Nicole continued, her voice trembling with anger. She didn’t want to hear his excuses. "How could you use your powers on our own daughter like that? Don't you realize what you've done? Do you think they will forgive you for this?
Garrett hung his head in shame, unable to find the words to defend himself. He had acted on a whim and he deserves everything that was coming to him.
"We will talk more about this later," said Nicole. She looked at her husband with a mixture of anger and disappointment and the hurt was visible in her eyes. Her normal warm and loving expression was nowhere to be seen.
Despite their busy schedules, Nicole had always believed that she and Garrett were good parents. They were always striving to do their best for their children and put them first above all else. This is why Garrett's actions today left Nicole in a state of disbelief and anger.
With that, Nicole's image vanished from the projected video, leaving Garrett in the study alone with his thoughts. He could feel the guilt gnawing at him, and he made a mental promise to himself that he would never use his powers on their children again. He knew it would take a lot of work to earn back the trust of his children but he wanted to make amends for his actions today.
"Knock, knock." The resounding sound echoed through the study like an ominous warning. The tension in the air was palpable as Garrett sat at his desk, bracing himself for what was to come. He knew that his daughter was awake now.
"Come in," he said, trying to sound as calm and collected as possible. His heart ached as he called out for the door to be opened, knowing that his reckoning had arrived in the form of his children, Christopher and Kristine.
The door creaked open, and Garrett was met with the ice-cold glare of his daughter. He could see the hurt and anger in her eyes, but she remained silent, her gaze bearing down upon him like a storm about to break. Beside her stood Christopher, his demeanor more composed, but the disappointment was evident in his eyes. He shook his head at Garrett's pleading look, making it clear that forgiveness would not come easily.
Garrett stood from his chair, his heart racing. He looked upon his children and he couldn't help but feel a deep sense of regret and sadness. He was filled with a sense of longing for the days when his children looked upon him with love and admiration, instead of the anger and disappointment he saw in their eyes now. He wanted to say something but he couldn't find the right words for an apology.
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The room was silent for what felt like an eternity, with only the ticking of the grandfather clock breaking the stillness. But eventually, it was Christopher who spoke up, his voice cutting through the tension like a knife. "Let's just move on," he said. "Let us demonstrate our powers, dad. I'll start first."
Christopher stepped forward, his eyes glinting with determination. With a quick nod to Kristine, he let out a deep breath as he began to concentrate. A white fluid began to ooze from his pores, covering his skin and hardening into a smooth armor. The armor flowed over his body, encasing him in a shell of bone white. His head was covered too, the armor forming a faceless mask with only two small slits for him to look through. It was a truly an intimidating sight.
This was "Bone armor" ability the system granted them after maxing out the "Toughness (Bone) Trait". The trait paired well with their Muay Thai skills but the "Bone Armor" skill was the icing on the cake. The twins didn't know how strong the armor was as they didn't dare test it with anything that could harm them, like firearms.
Garrett stared in awe as he inspected his son's armored form. He had always assumed that his children's otherworldly beauty was the result of their psionic powers, but it seemed that was not the case. It was simply a coincidence. Their beauty was likely a result of good genetics, inherited from their mother who was just as stunning.
"Incredible," Garrett breathed out. He wanted to leap with joy at the fact that his children were Psions but he composed himself. "Just look at you, Christopher."
Christopher smiled, knowing that his father bought it. He and Kristine would be able carefully disguised their powers from the system as psionic abilities.
"My turn." Kristine said coldly as she stepped forward. Her father turned to her with anticipation, eager to see what powers she possessed
She fixed her gaze on her father as she began her demonstration. As she concentrated, her eyes began to shimmer with a strange, otherworldly light. Her golden irises deepened and swirled like a galaxy, dotted with glimmering stars that seemed to dance and twirl with a life of their own.
Garrett felt his body suddenly go rigid as his daughter's gaze froze him in place for what felt like an eternity. He couldn’t even hear his own breathing and his sense of smell was nonexistent. All he could focus on were Kristine’s eyes that shone like beacons in the darkness. He felt as if every other sense were being stripped away, leaving him at the mercy of her gaze. The world around him seemed to fade away.
As Kristine's gaze held fast, Garrett felt a wave of nostalgia wash over him. It was as if the walls of time had crumbled away and he was transported back to the early days of the twins' lives. Back when he was more carefree, back before he'd seen so many of his comrades fall. He remembered the way the tiny twins clung to his fingers with their chubby little fists and his heart ached with a mixture of sadness and regret.
He knew that this was the work of his daughter's powers, that he should resist and fight against the influence. But he was so overcome with memories, so consumed by his emotions that he simply let it be. He allowed the warmth of his memories to engulf him.
Then, just as suddenly as it had begun, the spell was lifted and Garrett was jolted back to reality. He rubbed his eyes, trying to shake off the disorientation, and then looked up to see Kristine smiling in triumph. Her bright, beaming smile and triumphant expression only reinforced her adorableness in Garrett's eyes. He couldn't believe how he could have ever hurt her. She was his angel, after all. His precious and beloved daughter.
He remembered what he was fighting for. He was not fighting for glory or any other meaningless cause. He was fighting to protect his family, to keep them safe from the dangers and that lurked outsides the city walls. And as the tears began to well up in his eyes, he put his hands to his face and temple, trying to hide it all.
But it was no use. The Brigadier General, known for his war-hardened steely demeanor, was now reduced to a sobbing mess. And as the tears fell from his eyes, he couldn't help but think that he was failing in his ultimate mission. To protect his family, to be the strong, unwavering shield that sheltered them from the horrors of this ruined world. He knew he already failed this mission.
Kristine, shocked by the change, stepped back. Her voice was filled with awkwardness as she stuttered, "Umm, I call this my Mesmerizing Stare. It freezes people in place for five seconds and can make them more infatuated with me. I think?"
She looked at her similar stunned twin brother for help. He too was at a loss. They haven't really tested this ability on others before. The twins wondered what their father saw that made him break down in tears.