We took a break for people to eat and get some alone time with our partners.

Before we regathered in the study, Tameka and I put Pax to sleep. After I tucked his covers up to those red curls, he looked at me with eyes so like my own, asking, "Dad, will you sing to me?"

I glanced over at Tameka across Pax's bed from me. She was radiant. Happy. Her dual thumbs-up was all the encouragement I needed. I lowered the lights and sat on the edge of Pax's bed. He wiggled eagerly to make room. It ruffled his hair in his face, and I brushed it aside as I began to sing.

Para.

Karter.

Korac.

Nox.

The night we all sang together always comes to mind.

Little you presses a small hand to my face.

Preteen you says, "I've only heard you sing once."

It hurts for me to sing because it reminds me of my mother putting me to bed. It reminds me of my brother's habit of singing while performing idle tasks. It reminds me of before.

"One day, will you sing for me again?"

Of course I will, Rayne. One day.

Pax rolled over and fell asleep. Tameka took my hand as we left his room. Outside the door, she pulled me in for a hug. "I'm sorry you felt the need to hide yourself at such a young age."

I basked in her warmth, breathing her in. I'm so lucky.

"Damn straight." The adolescent you smirks, knowing exactly how much your best friend is worth.

"Thank you," I said, squeezing and scratching Tameka's back in a circle. "I'm afraid this isn't going as I'd expected."

Tameka's laughter is a beautiful sound, like if sunshine could resonate a chord. "When does anything go as expected? You're doing great."

Keeping my arm around her shoulders, I guided her out of the tunnel with a deep breath. As I let it out, I asked, "Are you ready for more?"

Tameka beamed at me. "Oh yeah. But you stop the moment you feel exhausted or uncomfortable. We'll all understand."

"Hah! If that were the case, I never would've made it past the opening."

Tameka nudged me playfully, and I kissed her hair as we ascended the synchronized steps.

She did other flirtatious things on the way up, which I'll spare you from knowing, but my smile was more of a smirk when we entered the study with her hand in my back pocket.

Leaning against a wall of shelves, Korac nodded at me as Tameka and I entered. I don't know if it was intentional, but the Iona General chafed his hand down Sagan's arm, notably missing a few ribbons.

What do you think, Rayne—Why are you smirking at me like that?

"Oh, just looking forward to more of this pissing contest between the pair of you."

Well.

I'll endeavor to deliver.

More people filed into my study. Couch space was supplemented with pillows borrowed from around the stronghold. Off to the corner bearing my desk, Caedes sat nestled into a cushion with Pehton between his legs. Karter took the armchair on my right after Sagan and Korac relinquished it to her. She cooed at Echo, dozing in her bassinet beside the chair. Chris and Para snuggled up at her feet, and Karter occasionally scratched through their hair. Tumu and Lamassau kept the couch but nuzzled closer together to let Ross and Jack cuddle at the far end. Kyle and Silence hadn't returned yet for... obvious reasons. Andrew and Lucas claimed the loveseat, with the Progeny stretched out, while the Icarus rubbed his partner's feet. Aria and Torch flanked the door, taking their role far more seriously than I could ever ask, but then I noticed they weren't really here. Their eyes were vacant as they surfed worlds beyond this one.

Voices from the others accumulated in the ravine outside the study, roaming the museum of stolen artifacts. T.a.o., Devis, and Andrius among them were once more in their first home. Lynn and Pablo fell asleep on a pallet outside the door. Matt and Lucy entertained Bethany and their entourage in predatory silence. Iuo, Twenty-One, Miy, and Bones snooped while Smith lectured on the significance of each piece with unnerving accuracy.

"And this is from Pil. It's the blueprints to the very first dwarf mechsuit."

Bones whispered conspiratorially, "How the hell and why the hell did Xelan get it?"

Smith said, "Ah, but that's why we're here. Is it not?"

Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

Even from the other room, I recognized Miy's incredulous snort. I imagined Twenty-One's silence was his harmless assessment of the schematics.

Once again, I took up to the front of the room with the fireplace behind me. Tameka was at my side, with her trademark optimism rolling off of her in waves of infectious enthusiasm. I am so lucky.

"Before I go onto the Tritan missions on Lacceirus Capra and Monarch 3, are there any burning questions or requests regarding my childhood?" My voice nearly trembled with the offer to invade my personal life, but since I put off sharing my truths with this family I'd worked so hard to build for so long, I could afford to be generous with my revelations. Maybe they wouldn't ask anything too close to revealing the monster in me. Not yet, anyway.

In tradition with Earth schooling, Ross raised her hand.

"Yes, Ross?"

She glanced nervously at Korac before meeting my eyes again, wetting her lips to say, "Many Feet was such a big part of both Verses. Is there anything you want to add?"

"You went quiet again, Superman."

I think... I think I'm ashamed.

"There's no need for it."

There I was worried someone might tread too close to my worst secret, and Kyle's younger sister only wanted to hear about my beloved Hellkite.

Your tiny hand takes the fist I'd made and opens it, spreading out your own fingers, so small against my palm. You say, "We love what makes you, you."

I kiss your hair and glimpse the preteen version of staring at me. Your expression is soft and so is your voice as you gently press, "Tell us about Many Feet."

After Many Feet faltered during our journey from Elden's Great House, I retired her, as Nox had stated in his Verse. As Korac learned in his Verse, I allowed my guard's regular visits to her cave, despite my orders to let her rest. Hinted at, but not entirely confirmed, I was still engaging the Hellkite in my experiments.

"Many Feet, how's my girl—Oof!"

The one-ton beast pounced on me as I entered her cave. Her crocodile snout rooted around my person for the north cave mushrooms I'd scavenged as a reward. "No, no, girl. Those are for after. Step off." I was laughing at her eagerness.

Earth-age eleven, my head was full of mischief, and Many Feet would help me test a hypothesis before I committed my next stunt.

Korac said, "Oh, Elden. What did you do to her?"

I think I've developed a wicked streak. Korac's misery made me grin at the room as I painted the rest of the scene.

"Here, girl. Have something to drink." I poured the glowing liquid—

"No fucking way—"

Into a bowl and took notes as she lathed it up. When two minutes passed with no effect, I was certain I'd failed. With a heavy sigh of defeat, I rewarded her with the mushrooms and made my way out of the cave.

I wondered what I should change about the formula. Was it concentrated enough? Should I try another phosphorous component—

A blue glow illuminated the cavern behind me, and I spun to find a most glorious sight. I think I grinned so widely I damaged the muscles in my face.

"Please, no," Korac groaned.

While Sagan consoled him with gentle touches, she beamed at me to continue.

Many Feet wasn't allowed to fly, especially not long distances. But no one said she couldn't bound.

Umbra was entertaining some Tritans and a few representatives from Reipon. Maybe two thousand guests filled the Spire. Korac was off on some mission for father, according to mother. Nox went out hunting, and there was no sign of Karter or Para anywhere in the Spire.

I was totally unsupervised.

"And you called me a handful." You're grinning at me.

As Tameka has already stated, Rayne, you got it from me.

I saddled Many Feet up and loped with her up the stairs and out of the cave. The bottom floor was empty, but activity from the party echoed down the central column of the Spire. I calculated exactly seven minutes of mayhem before someone intervened. With deft hands, I checked my munitions.

Ready.

The screams...

The blinding pandemonium...

People fainted at the sight of the glowing beast and its hooded rider. They ducked and dodged as I fired pepper bombs from my launcher, specifically designed to shoot below the nanite field projectile threshold. Amolot tried to take Many Feet head-on, but my ol' girl pivoted and crashed into the biggest table.

Umbra's table.

Food and drink went everywhere.

Unfortunately, so did the pyrotechnics they'd created for the night's ambience. A three-meter canister contained white flames in a cylindrical spiral. When it fell over, all the magnesium spilled in a napalm flare.

Terrified, I spurred Many Feet to flee to my room where I packed a bag. I was only eleven, and I dreaded my punishment.

Sagan asked Korac, "Why didn't you mention this in your Verse?"

"You're about to find out."

I cried so hard that day. Snot and tears rained down my face, but I couldn't move swiftly enough. Clothes, provisions, research—all of it went into my bag until it brimmed with my privileged belongings—

"My son."

I stopped, but couldn't face my mother. I gripped Elden's nacre shard for strength, asking, "How long before father makes it up here? Five minutes? Three? I won't survive it this time. He will kill me."

Savis put her hands on my shoulders and stood behind me, a small comfort before the end. But when she spoke, I'd never heard her voice quite like in this moment. "I took care of it, Xelan. Not a word of tonight will be spoken. There will be no punishment. Not from him, nor Amolot."

I whirled and stared up at her, my face ruined with my weeping. Astonished, I asked, "How?"

Savis pulled a handkerchief from her shaking wrist and wiped my face, hands gentle and trembling. Mother knelt, putting herself at my height as she said, "With my word. I made Umbra a promise, and now I will make you one. While I never have agreed with your father's ambitions, his anger upsets my work. I cannot move freely around the Spire while he stews in his constant resentments."

I swallowed a hiccuping sob to ask, "What is the promise, mother?"

Her uncharacteristic tone didn't change as Savis said, "If you place me in the position of gratifying that man again, I will force you to euthanize your precious Many Feet. Do you understand?"