Siblings

She is well aware that she is trespassing, and that Father would certainly disallow her entrance to this part of the inner forge. Still, she supposes that with the standing directive the two of them agreed upon for her behavior, she should not have too much trouble - especially since her half-brother is more than happy to lend his assistance in guiding and allowing her inside.

She places a slender, pale hand on the access panel, and holds herself still as the varied auspex units scan her, and a tiny frown blemishes her forehead. The security is tighter than she anticipated, and an order of magnitude more difficult to crack without sending the whole system howling with alarms. She wants to avoid that, since she can be certain that both her aunts on-site would give her a rather thorough scolding. Despite that dark prospect, she cannot fully suppress a snicker when she considers their reactions to being interrupted when enjoying the company of her Father.

Her face once again composed in a serene mask of attention, she closes her eyes, and her consciousness reaches within, communing with her half-brother, sensing his attention turning towards her, the vast presence sparkling with the joy of recognition, and then the immense gate of the inner forge starts to slowly inch open. She smiles softly, ensuring that her brother feels her pride in his abilities and her thankfulness for the help he rendered.

Cold, muted glow outlines the shapes of innumerable minor and not-so-minor objects scattered over the vast desk, along shelves, in alcoves or in cylindrical stasis capsules, sealed behind plasteel and armorglass. Her eyes scan along the rows and rows of handcrafted artifacts, knowing full well how much of a privilege it is to see this eccentric collection - and a quick check with her brother draws comparisons with other similar forges on Mondus Occulum, Nocturne, and Medusa. She can't suppress a brief happy giggle, and her eyes sparkle with joy at the thought of seeing, visiting, experiencing those places … provided their father allows her.

She then goes rigid, ingrained combat routines snapping into full readiness despite (or perhaps, especially because) the location, as an immense crystal shimmers with myriad colors in an alcove. Carefully, she steps closer, head tilted to the side as she contemplates the dance of scintillating colors within and behind the thousand facets of the immense Dust crystal. Her tension breaks as she feels a tentative, half-aware feeling of welcoming warmth radiating towards her, followed by a tinge of confusion, then a tidal surge of childlike curiosity.

Her hand alights on the crystal, and closes her eyes as minuscule tendrils extend from under her skin, testing, tasting, exploring the entity, opening new channels of communication between them, as she delves carefully within the half-formed sentience, kin but different to the machine spirit inhabiting Beacon Academy, tensing for the whirlwind of data exchange.

Green eyes snap open, as the vast crystal hums with something she can't name anything else than joy, and a riot of warm, welcoming colors washes over the shadowy recesses of the inner forge, banishing the darkness - and illuminating the giant figure of Perturabo towering in the entrance.

Though it is technically unnecessary, Penny gulps as she turns and smiles at her father, a guilty smile on her lips, and she suppresses a wince when she sees the disappointed light in the ice-cold blue gaze of the Primarch. That disappointment vanishes by the time he crosses the forge to tower above her, and is replaced by a rueful expression she cannot entirely place. Perhaps if Aunt Glynda or Aunt Winter were here, they could explain - but they aren't, and so she can only rely on her father to enlighten her.

The oversized hand of Perturabo alights on the slender shoulder of his daughter, and he chuckles.

"I suppose I deserved that, Penny." She looks at him, her face puzzled. "When I told you to act like a child, a teenager, I should have considered the inherent curiosity and tendency to disregard the parental guidance."

Penny squeaks as the immense hand ruffles her hair, and the Lord of Dust continues.

"Still, while it was a good idea to convince your brother to help you, did you honestly believe that I had only a single layer of security guarding my forge?"

Her smile is somewhat forced now, as she nods before speaking.

"Considering the complexity of that biometric verification and that it was tied closely to Beacon itself, I suppose I got careless, father."

The Primarch grins as he nods, before replying, an undercurrent of something in his voice that Penny can't exactly place. She misses her Aunts on such occasions; they can always illuminate her about the intricate nuances of being human.

"At least you are alive to learn from it, Penny."

Her eyes go wide as she recognizes that undertone in her father's words, and her hand instinctively latches onto his trunk-like arm.

With a shake of his shoulders, he shakes off the fey mood, the proud scientist and father returning. Even though she half-expects his next words, they still leave Penny shaken - but even so, her happiness and curiosity are much stronger.

"I see you met Baetylus, Penny - take care of it, as in a way, it is a half-brother of yours; or at least it will be with careful nurture."

A/N: Baetylus, the Living, Semi-Sentient Dust Crystal was conceived by and belongs to Omniscient1, whose works you can (and imo, should) check out here and over at Spacebattles.