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As she exits the shower, wrapping herself in a soft towel, Rigel halts mid-step, body tensing. A gentle, familiar mental greeting tries to coax her out of the bathroom, but it feels hollow and manipulative. She knows she should smile, quickly don a comfortable bathrobe, and greet her sons who have supposedly just returned from the park. Rigel longs normalcy —a proper dinner with her child and peaceful night's sleep- but she is not meant to be average. Exceptional cannot exist by the standards of what others consider normal.
Instead, she stands frozen, torn between the desire for that simple comfort and the knowledge that Keir is out in the living room, likely staring at The Legion as he plays. Keir will be frustrated with his blue-skinned father; the young telepath finding his caregiver's thoughts as inscrutable as ever. The piano's melody continues, a bad omen wrapped in beautiful notes signaling the start of another night where nothing is as it seems.
Rigel takes a deep breath, steeling herself. Exhausted, annoyed, and hungry—but most of all, she's a mother who misses her sons- she responds to the attempt to connect thoughts. With a mix of determination and resignation, she steps out of the bathroom. “I'm coming.”
The melody of the piano washes over the little boy, but it was the sight of his mother that truly captures his heart. His small legs propel him forward, arms reaching out. Eyes sparkle with joy. “Mama!” he calls, the word echoing through the room as he crashes into her embrace, feeling the warmth and safety of her presence. Legion's music become the backdrop to this tender reunion. An uncharacteristic restraint in the patriarch to allow such intimacy to be demonstrated uninterrupted.
Keir is the inheritor of a beautiful blend of his parents’ features. Rigel’s contributions are soft, almond-shaped eyes with narrow expressive eyebrows above, giving him an adorable but slightly mischievous look. His skin is a light, natural tone, quite different from his father’s vivid blue. His hair is dark and silky, falling into gentle waves just like Rigel’s along a delicate smooth cheek. The boy offers a smile, wide and innocent that lights up his whole face, making his expressions vivid and animated; a stark contrast to both parents. And like most toddlers, he’s got that irresistible baby softness with those chubby little hands that add to his charm.
“Welcome home, Kiki. Is it true that Petra took you to the park? How nice?” She smiles, pulling the little boy into her arms for a tight hug before she signals Petra to take care of the couch. “Let's get you a bath and dinner before I read you a bed story.” The piano plays softly; the blue man at the keys expressionless and almost vacant as the gentle melody seems to usher the pair away.
The sleek bathroom glows with soft lights. Rigel guides Keir toward the tub. The AI, Bubbles, chimes in gently: “Hi, Keir! Ready for some fun?”
Keir's eyes widen as the wall in front of the tub transforms into a magical forest with cute animals. “Wook, Mama! Bunny!” he shouts, pointing excitedly.
“Yes, Kiki. We're going to have a special bath-time,” Rigel replies, smiling despite the aching in her shoulders.
The friendly fox on the wall begins: “Let's wash those tiny toes, Keir! Wiggle, wiggle!” The fox syncs with the song Bubbles plays: “Splish splash, scrub-a-dub-dub...”
Rigel helps Keir undress from his clothes, stained with dirt and plant matter. “My little botanist, you've brought half the garden home with you!” Keir giggles sweetly as she helps him step gently into the tub, the water adjusting to the perfect temperature.
The scene shifts to an underwater world with colorful fish. “Mama, fishies!” Keir giggles, splashing happily.
“Yes, sweetie,” Rigel responds, her smile not quite reaching her eyes as she playfully splashes some water on his muddy face. “Now, let's get you cleaned up. You look like you've been wrestling with a mudroot!”
As Rigel starts washing Keir's hair, he suddenly tilts his head, eyes distracted slightly. “Peta thinking 'bout dinner,” he says, pointing at the wall.
Rigel's hands pause momentarily. “Kiki, what have I told you about listening to other people's thoughts?”
“But it easy, Mama,” Keir pouts. “Star flowers make it more easy.”
“You mean the starshades?” Rigel asks, resuming her washing.
“Yup! We put star flowers in house, Mama?”
“No, Kiki, we can't.”
“But why? They so pretty!”
Rigel sighs, searching for simple words. “The starshades are... not nice to other flowers. They make other plants go away.”
Keir's brow furrows. “Like... bullies?”
“Yes, like bullies,” Rigel nods, relieved at his understanding.
“Daddy a bully?” Keir asks innocently.
Rigel's body goes rigid, her eyes widening, the neural interface on her forehead blinking. The cheerful forest scene on the walls flickers, briefly showing a stormy sky before Bubbles corrects it. “Kiki, what did I say about answering thoughts?” Her voice is strained.
“But you think it, Mama! Daddy, like star flower not play nice with others.”
The water in the tub begins to ripple unnaturally. Small bottles on nearby shelves start to vibrate.
“Kiki, stop,” Rigel says firmly, her hands trembling slightly as she rinses his hair.
Keir's lower lip quivers. “Why you not tell me, Mama?” The water starts to swirl without any visible cause.
Rigel acts quickly by taking a deep breath, closing her eyes. She removes her hands from Kiki's hair and runs them through the bathwater in slow, deliberate motions. The ripples seem to glow faintly, spreading a sense of calm. After three waves of her hands, Keir yawns, his probing thoughts slowing.
After three deep breaths from Rigil, Keir changes the subject.
“Kiki and Petra found treasure,” he mumbles sleepily.
Rigel sighs, relieved, her movements becoming more precise. “Oh? Tell me about it.”
“Ring in dirt. Lady was crying. She was... sad.”
“Did you see her?” Rigel asks, curiosity overriding her caution.
“No... just feeled it.”
“You... felt the Lady? Through the ring~?” As Rigel's attention drifts, Keir perks up again. “Mama, why ashy on purple couch?”
Rigel tenses, memories flashing through her mind. The Legion. The couch. The stupid maintenance robots couldn’t clean properly. The bath toys start to vibrate in the water.
“Is Daddy hurt?” Keir asks, his body seeming to shimmer with black stars.
Rigel quickly focuses on the water again, calming the environment. “Kiki, remember about privacy? Some thoughts are just for grown-ups.”
“But Daddy say no secrets,” Keir protests weakly, another yawn escaping.
“There's a difference between secrets and privacy, Kiki,” Rigel explains gently, rubbing his back. “Some things are for when you're bigger.”
“Tell me when I bigger?” Keir asks, eyelids drooping.
“Of course, my little botanist,” Rigel forces a smile. “Now, about that ring. Where is it?”
“Peta has. She say Daddy wanted.”
Rigel's eyes narrow, but she keeps her voice light. Her hands return to his hair. “I see. How about we finish up and read about those starshades you love?”
“Yes, Mama,” Keir nods sleepily. “Read 'bout how they grow?”
“Of course, sweetie,” Rigel says, her mind already racing with questions about the ring as she helps Kier out of the tub.
“No worry, Mama. Daddy has ring.” He smiles innocently.
ns 15.158.61.51da2
