Thanks for the reviews everyone!
Sangga: Yeah, this is probably gonna turn into a long one. But I promise I'll see it through!
Prin69: I'm glad you like Hannah! She's definitely one of the strongest OC's I've ever made up, and I have to admit to having a soft spot for her too. I am slightly insane, (just ask my friends), but I don't think I'm dangerous. Or, at least… evil grin not yet.
Callie-Cat: I've deliberately left it kinda vague about which kid's are who's, (although it should all become clear pretty quickly), and here's your more!
NalanaSpinderOfSouls: Thanks! I was a little worried that my characters would end up all over the place in the first few chapters, but, then again, I've been writing these characters a long time before this story started.
Ash: Thanks!
April: You'll learn more about Trident in this chapter. I think he has white teeth... I don't normally concentrate on the condition of my character's dentors when I write them...
Trix: They'll meat their parents soon enough, don't worry. ;) Meanwhile, enjoy the next couple of chapters!
Chapter Three: Of Brothers and Sisters
Hannah stuck her head into the little cubby-hole that Trident had made into his sleeping nest. His combat boots were stuck out of the end, and the snuffling half-snore her brother always made when he was sleeping could be heard rattling inside the chamber.
"Yo, li'l bro, rise 'n shine!" She gave his boot a yank, jerking him awake.
"Huh?" He sat up too suddenly, whacking his head off the low ceiling, "ouch! Jeez!"
"Y'know, for a Nietzschean, you really have useless reflexes," Hannah observed, with something like an evil grin.
Trident groaned and rolled over. "Leave me alone, Han…"
"Nu-uh, no can do," Hannah took hold of her brother's ankles and jumped backwards off the ladder she had used to get to him, dragging him crashing down with her.
He yelped as he tumbled free of his blankets, landing on the floor, two meters below. "Cripes, man! Don't do that!"
"Shoulda got up when ya could." Hannah shrugged. "Come on. Teseract's wait for no freak, right? An' Hope wants us suited up an' ready to go, quick as possible. This one's important. You wanna see your dad again, scar-face?"
Trident struggled onto his feet, rubbing his head. "Yeah, yeah, I know." The scars that had earned him the family nick name twisted as he grimaced. A good half of his face was completely disfigured, the skin a livid shade of blood red, mottled and twisted, the left nostril almost flat, the left ear non-existent, one eye staring out in an almost startled expression from the deformed skin.
His combat jacket, scraped together from the remnants of an old high-guard uniform, was already on, and he straightened it self-consciously. He, like Khayos, was reluctant to meat his parents. "How do I look?"
Hannah shrugged, a thin veil of indifference masking the deep fondness she harboured for her half brother. "As good as you always do, Tri."
Trident looked doubtfully at the mirror nailed up next to the ladder leading to his sleeping nest, then carefully flattened his dark, rusty hair. "I'll bet."
Hannah gave his shoulder a gentle punch. "Scar face."
"Rat nose." He elbowed her, half heartedly.
She laughed, "whatever. Now get ready, or Hope'll have ya. And relax. Dad cared enough to haul ya outta your mother's pride when they threatened to disown you. He'll be alright."
Trident sighed. "Yeah. Sure."