Technical Difficulties
By Mooselk
Their first son was beautiful. It took Fëanáro a frustratingly long time to get the alloy for the skin tone just right, to make the organs out of the finest materials, to write enough programs to keep the child functional, but when it –he- was finished, when he saw the love and pride in Nerdanel's eyes as she beheld their first child, he knew that it had been worth the time.
The face had been modeled on Nerdanel's sketches, the hair made out of the finest copper wire. Fëanáro smiled at his wife's joy as she proclaimed him, "Maitimo." And when the child opened his silver eyes, smiled, and said, "Atar!" in his high, perfect voice, Fëanáro could almost believe that he was flesh and blood.
It was not long before Nerdanel and Fëanáro felt the need for another child, a brother for Nelyafinwë. Again they labored, with Nelyo watching curiously from behind.
"Is that how I was made? Will my new brother be just like me? "
"Yes, sweetling, this is how you were made, but each of you will be different and unique," Nerdanel answers him with a smile, looking up from a complicated program concerning musical talent that she is writing.
A Year after Macalaurë's "birth", as Nerdanel jokingly called the moment when they pulled the tiny "on" switch, Nelyo begs to meet other children. Children of flesh and blood. His parents agree with some hesitation.
Nelyo comes back with bright, sparkling tears trickling down his little, perfect face.
"They said I was different and strange, a-and that me and Káno shoulnd't have existed. They said that we are not r-real," he sobbed into Nerdanel's shoulder. She wiped his tears away with a clean cloth, dying it silver.
"They are wrong, my Maitimo. You are special and precious, and oh, so real. Otherwise, how would you hug me?"
He gives her a tremulous smile at that, and outside, Fëanáro unclenches his fists. I will show them...
More sons follow, each different and special. Lord Oromë takes a special interest in Tyelkormo, who's wood-lore program is his center interest.
Carnistir damages himself more often than all his other brothers combined. He falls from cliff tops, get run over by horses. Fëanáro once asks him, in worried exasperation, whether Carnistir wants to die that badly. Carnistir does not reply in the negative and Nerdanel leaves the room crying.
His oldest sons are very good when it comes to Upgrades. Nelyo sits down obediently, shaking his glittering hair from his neck to expose the small panel that contains his switches. Fëanáto gently sets him to "Sleep" and begins his work. The limbs must be elongated, the face must mature. New programs need to be installed. The whole process takes about a week. Macalaurë lingers outside the window, watching with barely traceable worry. But Maitimo is good as new when he walks out, tall and proud, with many new features and capabilities and this prompts Macalaurë to be quite agreeable to Upgrades as well.
After Tyelkormo's first Upgrade, he tests his limbs, tears up, and yells, "Change me back! I don't want to be like this!" When Fëanáro shrugs and tells him he will get used to it, he smashes his fist into the nearest wall and storms out. The fist leaves a dent.
Nerdanel does not approve when Fëanáro wants to make a near-clone of himself. He is insistent, however, and so she helps, however unwillingly. She slips in a couple programs and traits when he is not looking. He finds out eventually, but it is far too late to delete the offending changes. In retaliation, he installs Loyalty to himself as one of the major traits of the new child. Curufinwë the younger seldom leaves Fëanáro's side.
The Ambarussa are a feeble attempt at healing the rift that has grown between Nerdanel and her husband. It is the most impressive project they have ever completed. The two move in synchrony and speak together. They see out of each other's eyes and yet are capable of being completely independent from each other. They are beautiful. The marriage fails anyway
And years later, Nerdanel begs him to leave her the twins, as a memory of what they had.
"Someone must be saved from your fool's quest! Let it be them!"
Fëanáro laughs in her face. All seven go with him.
The Teleri stand no chance when faced with the new programs installed specifically for battle. After the battle, their people cry, but the sons of Fëanáro heed their father and remain impassive, canceling the Guilt code before it can run. They board the rockets quickly and efficiently.
On the other shore, Maitimo speaks to him softly, asking for whom the ships will be sent back.
"None and none!" Fëanáro replies. This is no time to be faced with the silly Sentimentality that his wife had insisted on. "We will destroy them now."
"But Atar!" Maitimo gasps, horrified and Fëanáro looks at him queerly. "But...the rest of our family is..!"
"We have no family that is not here with us. Here," he holds out a blaster, "You will be first to shoot."
"I will not," the whisper is barely audible
"What?!"
"I said I will not, Atar!"
"You dare defy me?! Your father and creator?"
Atarinkë appears at his shoulder, looking at his eldest brother with uncomprehending eyes.
"Atar has ordered it, Nelyo. You cannot defy him,"
" I will not take part in the destruction of these rockets," Maitimo says, and turns his back
"You-" Fëanáro reaches towards his son's neck. The panel is barely visible, but if he can just…
Maitimo hits his father's arm away and runs. Damn superior reflexes!
With a wild curse, Fëanáro shoots at the white swans and watches as they catch fire. He is going to have to downgrade the Free Will and Independence he installed into Maitimo at his coming-of-age.
He never gets the chance.
A/N: Sci-Fi AUs are always fun. I might continue this.
Name Guide:
Fëanáro: Fëanor
Maitimo: Maedhros
Macalaurë/Káno: Maglor
Tyelkormo: Celegorm
Carnistir: Caranthir
Atarinkë: Curufin
Ambarussa: Amrod and Amras
Translations:
Atar: Father