CHAPTER TEN

DIGGING DEEPER BENEATH THE SURFACE

—

Iason's systems responded to the threat, before he even had a moment to process the situation. When his eyesight focused on the child before him and he regained senses of his body he realized he had his hands wrapped around it. He blinked, converging his gaze to his where his hands were squeezing with strength to kill - Luci's neck. His fingers quivered they were wringing the thin tanned neck before him with such intensity.

The dark eyes calmly held the Blondie's gaze, observing his furrowed brow and tight features as the man began to huff a bit from the over exertion. The child's small arm reached out, touching the Blondie's hand around her neck.

Immediately Iason's mind connected and with horror he realized what he was doing and abruptly let go, sending Lucifer to the floor with a thud. Iason's chest constricted, the feeling of the child's tanned skin beneath his fingers sending shivers down his spine as he visualized Riki being in place of Luci. He panted, looking down at his shaking hands and slowly closed them, before looking to Lucifer who was sitting cautiously where he landed.

"I...I apologize for that," Iason murmured, trying to identify the cause of the reaction. He was programmed to remain calm, only taking action when absolutely necessary. However, when his circuits processed what Lucifer had said, he lost that control.

"It's—" Lucifer coughed, only to clear his throat. "Quite all right, it was to be expected."

"Are you harmed?"

Lucifer snorted. "Of course not," he answered in a chuckle. "You might be an Android, but I am a Humanoid, remember? We were made to kill you, not be easily killed by asphyxiation." He averted his gaze. "I suppose now is the time to tell you that we are also a flawed Humanoid, in that we refuse to do what we were made to."

Iason took a sip of his wine to calm himself down, the familiar test resonating with his taste buds. "Why would you not kill me?" he inquired quietly. "You are clearly able to."

"Are you inviting me to?" Lucifer chuckled, watching Iason stiffen slightly. "Don't fret about that. We were taught by our Carrier from the moment we were conscious to fight against the purpose of our being. Thus, we were given a new reason to exist." He looked straight into Iason's eyes. "To protect Iason Mink and prevent the loss of Amoï."

A strange sense of relief filled Iason, but it did not completely settle his fears. "How do I know you are not deceiving me?"

Lucifer shook his head, laughing sadly. "Why would I bother breaking out of Maximum Security to save you, just to kill you on my own later? Why would I not just have let them kill you and I could've broken out and be free right now?" he demanded. "They were after us. If I had let them kill you, I could've gotten Luci to safety and we would be off the radar and free from our fears forever—mostly."

Iason nodded, agreeing with the sense of logic. "I suppose that is accurate." But he still couldn't shake the abnormal fear that Luci or Lucifer were just trying to win him over so that they could gain something before they disposed of him.

"You still don't believe us," Lucifer sighed, running his fingers through the long black locks in a move that was dauntingly similar to the way in which Riki did when he was frustrated. "Then how about this, I'll make a contract with you."

"A contract?"

"Yes," Lucifer answered, gazing around. "Is there any paper? Ah, Luci's sketchbook!" Lucifer hurried down the hall and then appeared again after a brief disappearance with a sketchbook and writing device. "If we go into a contract with you, you have physical proof that we will not harm you." He proceeded to write out an agreement in very neat handwriting and then presented it to Iason. "You have access to our bank account, you have a contract to prove our loyalty and we've already shown you that we aren't prepared to let you perish easily for the sake of Amoï and our parent. Will you not at least give trusting us a microscopic chance?"

Iason held the contract in his hands, reading it over and then glanced from Lucifer to the paper and signed it. "I will give it a thought," he agreed. "However, Jupiter will be another challenge altogether." He paused and added. "What did you mean about Riki?"

"Our parent would be devastated if you died, would he not?" Lucifer demanded, then averted his gaze. "I am aware that he is not on equal grounds with you, but there are still feelings between you two, are there not? Therefore, I believe if anything happened to you, he would be shocked, would he not?"

Iason chuckled softly. "I am unsure," he simply answered. "I would like to believe he would be, but the idea of him responding in any way other than gratitude at me perishing seems illogical."

Lucifer blinked, his eyes roaming around the floor as if the answered lay buried within the finally woven fibers of the rug. "I see," he softly replied, then jolted. "I must go. Luci is regaining consciousness." He looked up to Iason. "She won't remember anything that happened in the market, so please do not tell her anything. And please do not be upset with her if she is frightened now that you know the truth - uugh...!"

Iason rose as the child fell down, approaching her and picking her up carefully as she remained limp like a doll for a moment. "Luci?" he called gently, giving her a soft shake. "Luci, can you hear me?"

Luci's brown eyes appeared as the child's eyes opened, before she jolted in fear and squirmed.

"It's all right, Luci!" Iason declared loudly and firmly, stopping the child in mid struggle. "There is nothing to be afraid of. My viewpoint on you was not altered with the appearance of Lucifer."

The child blinked, gasping silently as she realized that she wasn't going to be sent to Jupiter now that their secret was known. She visibly relaxed, then leaned into him in exhaustion.

The Blondie grabbed onto the tablet from the floor, then settled back in his chair. "Are you able to do the technique with electricity as your brother is?" he asked after waiting for Luci to settle down as well.

Luci blushed, averting her gaze for a moment then gave a small nod: Yes, I can. However, I haven't had many opportunities to use it, as it is mainly used for protection or attack. She paused. Did Lucifer kill using my body?

Iason hesitated, but decided that it wasn't the best time to tell the truth. "No," he softly answered.

I see, she typed back, then added: Thank you for giving us a chance, and the opportunity to be with our parent.

"You're welcome," Iason answered softly. "Thank you for not assassinating me." He then stiffened as he wondered if Luci would be effected by the comment.

Luci simply smiled, typing back: It's what I was made for.

"Well all the same, it's a nice change of pace to have something not wanting me dead," he noted, then picked up his newsfeed reader as a notification appeared.

Luci, having never seen the device blinked, her eyes widening in interest. She peeked over at the screen, observing how deftly Iason would swipe through the notifications and articles streaming across the screen. It was going so fast she could only catch bits of news fragments.

Iason glanced down, a smile and soft chuckle appearing on his features as he watched Luci's expressions. Her face was scrunched up, the tip of her tongue peeking of her mouth while her eyes darted across the screen as she attempted to keep up. "Have you ever seen a NewsScript before?"

The child shook her head, not removing her eyes from the screen in fear of losing her pace.

Iason switched to another screen, opening up the tab in which the notification he received was. "Generally, all of the articles that are of interest to me will appear in this folder," he explained. "And anything else is just extras that are gossip or events. I only glance at that page if I want to see what is going on in the galaxy."

Luci read the notification about an off world trader who apparently had some rare goods and then an article about the Eos Market incident, but chose not to read that one. She raised her head to Iason, nodding in new understanding and watched Iason continued to look through documents and news articles, trying to keep up and not interrupt him.

—

When Iason put away his NewsScript it was very late into the night and Cal had already retired for the evening. He glanced down to see Luci fast asleep in his lap and smiled as he saw a similarity to Riki in that she was holding onto the tips of his blonde hair. She had received her food infused with vitamins via the tube implant, while Iason had his meal served in the living room so he could continue with his reading and answer a call from Katze without having to leave his chair.

Iason gently scooped Luci up into his arms, then slowly moved through the home and to her guestroom where he placed her in the large bed. She was already dressed in sleepwear as she had taken a bath upon her arrival in the penthouse, so there was no need to wake her. He pulled the blankets back and set her down, watching as her sleepy brown eyes met his as she felt his hair strands and the corner of clothing escape her sleep weakened grasp. "Good night, Luci," he said softly.

Luci yawned softly, then mouthed out the words: Good night, Lord Mink.

He pulled up the blanket, watching as the child finally relaxed and actually stayed sleeping despite the contradicting footage that showed her waking up constantly. Iason then realized that Lucifer was the one who woke when she slept and therefore because he was awake earlier, he would probably remain dormant at this time.

Iason headed back to his room, the lights of the guestroom and penthouse dimming as he exited the room and halls and entered the Master bedroom to sleep after an eventful day.

—

"What is all of this fuss about?" Iason demanded, frowning as there was a bunch of noise. "Luci!"

Luci hurried to the door as Iason beckoned her, narrowly escaping Cal who was protesting because she refused to let him help her dress. While running, she pulled down her dress just in time as she turned the corner and made eye contact with Iason.

"Wait, Miss Luci...!"

He glanced to Luci who was pulling up a sock as Cal approached huffing. "What is going on here?"

"Miss...Luci would not allow me to help her change," Cal informed him, presently a pair of shoes that she had left behind in her rush. She had locked him out of the bathroom where she changed into everything aside from socks and shoes as fast as she could. He was flustered because as Furniture it was his job to assist children guests and pet offspring, and she wasn't allowing him to.

The Blondie frowned as Luci casually slipped on her shoes and accepted the tablet from Cal. "Explain yourself, Luci."

Luci huffed, then typed: I'm not a Princess, a Guest of Honor or anything else of high standards, therefore I should not need assistance from Cal for everything I do!

Iason sighed in exasperation, a recollection of Riki refusing Daryl's care surfacing. "We will discuss this later," he decided, reaching out to grab onto Luci's hand. "Let us go now, before anymore trouble occurs."

Luci hurried alongside Iason, but was struggling with being dragged behind so she yanked her hand out of his grasp to follow behind him. Iason then realized that Luci still had a small figure and therefore, she couldn't keep up. He paused momentarily to pick her up and then carried her off to the Pet Clinic to retrieve Riki.

—

Riki was relieved when he saw Iason and Luci coming into the Clinic, but refused to show any signs of it. He was not fond of medical facilities, but his dislikes didn't matter when Iason thought he was unwell. Then again, whatever tests and procedures they had done had worked, because he felt much better, so he couldn't resent the Blondie completely in that regard.

"He will be just fine now," the Sapphire assured. "Just ensure he does not receive any rough contact with his head for a few days, so the medicine can prevent the damages completely in case there were any harms to the brain."

"There were none, correct?"

"None that we could detect, but as a precaution..."

Luci hurried over to Riki, immediately climbing up onto the stool in front of the cot he was on and hugged him.

"Hey kid," he murmured, returning the hug awkwardly, then caught a glimpse of her eyes which were brown again and not all dark like yesterday. "Hey...your eyes..." Then he noticed they were filling with tears at an alarming rate. "Shit, shit! Don't cry! I'm fine, OK? I'm fine!" He picked her up and winced as she hugged him really tightly. "I'm fine, I'm fine, I swear!"

Satisfied with that, Luci pulled back looking at his face up and down to ensure he wasn't playing the tough guy and trying to conceal his pain.

"Shit, how strong are you?" he wheezed.

Luci laughed silently, then hugged him again and this time Riki noticed it felt less awkward and he actually gave her a pat on the back. Once she stopped, she settled down in his lap, while he kept one arm around her to keep her from falling.

Iason approached, a bit fascinated by the sight of Riki actually comforting his daughter in his lap. Who would have guessed he'd ever see a sight like that? He certainly had never conjured up anything like it. "Are you feeling better, pet?"

"Yeah," Riki answered, his voice a bit bitter to hide his eagerness to leave. "Can we go now?"

"Yes," Iason agreed, reaching out to guide Riki upwards after he adjusted his hold on Luci to carry her. "The doctor said all the tests were clear, but you will have to refrain from going to work for a few more days."

Riki cringed, he had wanted to leave so bad. "How many days?"

"Three at the least."

Riki sighed in irritation. "This sucks."

Iason chuckled, walking slowly to match Riki's pace. "Eager to leave, are you?"

Riki felt a pang of guilt as Luci happened to look up at him in confusion. He still hadn't adjusted to parenthood, but he knew he'd have to leave her behind eventually to gain the freedom he had at work. "Katze probably needs the help," he defended.

"True enough," Iason agreed. "I'll arrange for Katze to give you light work in three days."

—

Upon arrival, Riki planned to have a smoke and was quickly armed with a cigarette. Luci could barely keep up with the brisk movement of her parent as he swiftly moved around in the home and then across the living space. They were almost at the balcony entrance when suddenly a blonde figure appeared out of nowhere and blocked the pathway and immediately the cigarette package was confiscated.

"No cigarettes until your prescription is finished, Riki," Iason announced, placing the pack within his breast pocket.

"What? Why? Says who?" Riki challenged, trying to unsuccessfully grab them back. "C'mon Iason, just one!"

"Says me and the Doctor," Iason grimly revealed. "You'll be without for three days."

Riki ground his teeth. "Iason," he hissed in frustration. "I need one."

Iason shook his head, grasping onto Riki's chin. "You do not need one, pet," he assured. "You will be just fine without."

"Iason, you don't understand," the mongrel protested, flustered. "I need one really badly. I haven't had one since like yesterday or something. I'm in withdrawal here!"

"Find something to distract yourself with, pet," Iason suggested, casually walking away. "I have an issue with Orphe to resolve and assist with." He paused. "You promised to take Luci to the Gardens, did you not? Why don't you do that now?"Luci immediately perked up, hurrying to go get her tablet so she could agree with the idea. "I think it would be good for her to see something else after being in containment and you could definitely use some of the fresh Garden air."

—

Riki grumpily sat down on one of the benches, resting his face in his hands for a moment as he was hit with another wave of cravings. He ground his teeth, taking a deep breath as he shook a bit.

Luci plunked down softly next to him, typing out a message and sliding the tablet into his lap: Are you all right?

Riki cleared his throat. "Yeah, I'm fine just gimme a moment." He concentrated on controlling his breathing, calming his body and his mind. Riki knew that Iason was doing it out of concern for his health, but dammit if it didn't suck. He needed to find a way to get his nicotine intake without having Iason on his ass.

Fwipppp.

Brown eyes peered through the hands cradling his face, catching a glimpse of the sketchbook that Luci had brought with her being opened and full pages turned until an empty one appeared. He slowly raised his head, observing in as Luci casually began to sketch an outline of something. She was drawing an outline of some type of structure and then there were figures. Riki glanced around, but saw no one around them. He blinked when he glanced back, her speed in sketching was rather fascinating. His eyes focused on the page, connecting the dots of what was being drawn out. "I...is that us?" he questioned softly.

Luci glanced up and nodded, then added the final touches and presented the picture of both of them on the bench. Riki was holding the sketchbook and had a bird that landed upon his head and Luci was pointing and laughing at it.

"Wow," Riki breathed softly, amazed that mere seconds ago it was just a bunch of lines but now detailed enough to be almost a picture. "So you are an artist?"

Not really, Luci typed back. Ever since I got here I just felt inclined to create somethings, and occasionally they look nice.

Riki scoffed. "That sounds like an artist to me," he answered, then held out his hand to the sketchbook. "Can I?" Luci handed it over, then scooted up close to him and found the first page for them. "Huh." He gazed over a picture of some women dressed in almost regal apparel and looking into the far off distance. "Shit, that's pretty good..." He flipped the page, his heart stopping for a moment as he saw a picture of Iason and him walking together. It was a front view of them walking down a street or something. Iason was wearing his red, black and white outfit with shoulder pieces and his black cloak, his face was partially concealed by his sunglasses and long hair strands blowing softly in the breeze, but there was a hint of a smile on his lips. He was beside him, dressed in his biker jacket, black jeans and boots, his hands in his pockets and was looking a bit towards Iason, his lips curled up in a partially open mouth smile.

In disbelief at what he was seeing, Riki traced his fingers over the sketch, almost as if he were giving the scene permission to continue to see how it would play out. He was...smiling? It was almost as if he were laughing at something Iason had said. When had he ever laughed, sincerely, with Iason? He looked at Luci, his brows furrowing. "How did you draw this?" he demanded, wondering how she could have drawn something with so much detail it was almost a black and white security footage shot. "When did you draw this?"

Luci simply pointed to the date and signature, then typed: Does it offend you? Should I turn the page?

Riki shook his head. "It...it doesn't offend me," he denied. "I just don't understand how you draw so well without any references." He turned the page, surprised when it seemed to be layouts of some kind, and then turned the page again and was hit with another wave of confusion and shock. It was a sketch of him, leaning against an airbike, one hand in his jacket pocket, the other slung down with a bottle of stout in his grasp, a cigarette in his mouth while he gazed at Tanagura in the distance. His heart faltered for a moment, the scene horrifically familiar and presented to him as if Luci had been there. "How?' he choked, stroking the page beneath his fingers then looking to Luci. "How did you draw this? There is no way you..."

I'm very sensitive, Luci typed. Part of our genetics is being able to manipulate energy. But I can also absorb and see with it. She smiled sadly. Energy is everywhere and in everything we do. Therefore, I can see the past of your energy.

Riki's face was immediately filled with a horrified expression. "You can't...no way!"

Luci calmly placed her hand on his knee. I can see everyone's past through energy, as it can never be destroyed, she explained. That's how I saw you with this airbike, because your energy was absorbed within the grounds you rode on and is forever ingrained within it. And that energy is a fragment of your total energy which makes up your being.

"You shouldn't look into my past, kid." Riki felt genuinely concerned as to how Luci would react if she knew what he had been through. "You don't want to see it. There's no way..."

Your past is a part of you, Luci typed back. It has made you stronger and wiser. Never speak of it as if it is insignificant. She grasped onto Riki's knee. And never be ashamed for what has happened to you or who you've become because of it.

"You don't understand," Riki denied, brushing his fingers through his hair. "You don't..."

If your life was not meant to be as it is now, it would never have happened. If I were not meant to be here, I wouldn't be. If you weren't meant to have found me, you wouldn't have. Your life's energy guided you to the reality which you are in now. If Lord Mink or anyone else was not meant to be with you, your energy would have rejected them. Do you understand me?

Riki inhaled a soft breath, realizing the truth in what Luci had said. If he was not meant to be with Iason, he supposed it would have never happened or it would have crumbled away into a different reality by now. "I understand," he answered, feeling a bit lighter as he had confided in someone about something that had tormented him. He had always questioned if he was to be with Iason, but as Luci had put it, if it wasn't mean to be it would've failed long ago.

He slowly flipped the page, eyeing up an image of a dark figure that seemed to be a large human, twisted unnaturally so they were walking in a crawling motion that was outward, there face twisted to be upright instead of upside down as it should be. The creature was looming over a faceless and blurry figure hanging from something. "What's this?" he questioned, feeling disturbed.

Luci calmly glanced over. A nightmare, she answered.

"Yeah, looks like one to me..." Riki agreed, glancing up as a bird flew low. The sounds of it's wings suddenly flapping as it landed startled him and he protested as the large bird landed upon his head and started to softly peck. "Oi...! Get off!"

Luci covered her mouth, laughing and pointing as Riki tried to swat the bird off of him, but was pecked at each time.

—

"Are you questioning them all?" Iason inquired, looking to the screen which showed a large group of security persons in an interrogation room. "Have there been any suspicious responses?"

Orphe placed a data tablet down upon his desk. "Not a single one has raised any red flags," he answered. "We believe the men responsible were working together and it was solely them."

Iason swiped down, scanning the list of guards who had all passed the tests. "Then what was the true matter in which you summoned me for?" he inquired softly.

"I need to know how that child compromised security," Orphe replied, laying down another tablet like screen. "If I cannot contain a child within my security cells, I will not be able to secure any other threat, Iason."

"You are forgetting that this child is not a normal being," he reminded, then added. "And she is no threat to you."

Orphe waved his hand dismissively. "That is irrelevant." He pushed the screen to Iason, the footage of the cell cameras glitching, the child standing in the middle of the room with eyes as dark as an abyss. The footage glitched again and then Luci was gone, the hall cameras showing the child running to the lift and placing her hands on the wall, the doors opening mysteriously. "You should know what you have brought into Eos. So please explain how this child not only managed to free herself from her cell without causing the alarm to sound, but also activated the lift. Both actions are and should utterly impossible to do with the security implements in place by any regular being, yet once again you have something that has renounced the norms."

—

Riki glanced out the window as Luci paused at it, laying her hand gently upon the glass. He saw a familiar look in the brown eyes, one of longing for something beyond the barrier. Riki casually stopped behind her, gazing out in the same direction which was towards the shuttle station area if he was correct. "If you're not from Amoi, where did you come from?" he asked softly.

After a moment, Luci let her hand drop and her gaze turn to the tablet: I don't know, she typed sadly. Some place that doesn't exist.

"If you're from there, it exists," Riki pointed out. "Do you remember anything about where you're from?"

I was never outside until I came to Amoi, she typed. I was always inside. I never even saw where I was from when I escaped.

"You never went outside? Never?"

Luci shook her head.

"You've gotta be kidding," he scoffed. Shit, even Guardian let the kids outside for awhile to get some sunlight!

You're forgetting that I am a science experiment, Riki. Luci typed. Test subjects don't go outside, ever.

Riki sighed, bent down and picked her up and then started walking back to the penthouse. "You're not a test subject anymore," he reminded. "You're not wherever you're from, you're here. Now that you're here you can be a normal kid, do you understand?"

Luci smiled: What does a normal kid do?

"I don't fucking know," Riki grumbled. "Do kid stuff."

What is "kid stuff"? Luci typed back, giggling silently at how flustered her parent was becoming.

"Fucksake, I dunno!" he growled. "I don't fucking know! Do stuff that is fun and makes you happy!"

Luci paused for a moment, then typed: What does "fun" mean?

Riki closed his eyes, inhaling a sharp breath. "You're joking, right? Please tell me you're joking," he murmured, then looked at Luci who still appeared to be waiting for an answer. "Holy fuck you're not kidding. Shit..." He gave his head a shake. "You've never...played?"

Luci's brow furrowed, her eyes moving side to side as she pondered that question: I used to imagine I wasn't where I was from, but somewhere else with a family. She paused. Does that count?

Riki was beginning to feel disturbed. Just the fact that Luci didn't know the word fun was a bit terrifying for him. He had had "fun" while in Guardian by playing games with other kids or with some toys and stuff given to the kids when able to. Sure it wasn't much, but it passed the time and kept them stimulated. And even in Ceres he had his "fun" by being with his gang, even if what they were doing was wrong on occasion. He loved riding his airbike for fun, and would give anything to get back on one. "That's...playing pretend," he answered softly, his throat suddenly dust dry and unable to say anything else.

Luci smiled, typing back quickly: Then yes! I had fun playing pretend before I got here. It made me very happy when I was sad!

The lift door opened and Riki let Luci go, watching as she scurried away to her room with her armful of items to put them away. He felt a tightness in his chest, and didn't have the heart to tell Luci that playing pretend to escape whatever had made her sad wasn't exactly fun but more so an escape from reality. Riki slowly moved through the penthouse to the balcony, where he just leaned against the railing while wondering what exactly happened to Luci before she got here? He wanted to know, but part of him was so afraid to ask.