"…and until six weeks ago, I was in charge of our militia. Directing and training them; that is until we knew for sure I was pregnant. Then Lex and the rest of the Mallrats wouldn't hear of me continuing in my post." Siva moved around the things on the dresser, dusting it and them. "So now Pride does the actual training, while supposedly consulting me, but pretty much I stick close to the mall, cooking, cleaning, growing my baby." She turned, facing her sister sitting on the bed. "I sound so lame, don't I?" She nervously played with a couple of her braids.
"Not lame, caring…and strong. It takes great inner strength to know what's right and follow that path. Hell, in your place, I would probably still try to head up the militia, my big belly leading the way as we do drills." Ebony laughed and Siva joined with her, adding, "Wouldn't that be a sight?"
"Yeah, but only for like ten minutes, until Jack found out. Then he'd have me over his shoulder or rather, in his arms so fast that my head would swim, lecturing me the whole time." Ebony picked non-existent lint off the comforter, smiling absently. "I see it, but I don't believe it. You've gone soft. You've fallen in love and gone soft on us." Siva laughed softly, her eyes twinkling at her younger sister. She looked up to see Amber standing in her doorway.
"Ebony, going soft? Why do I find that hard to believe?" The blonde girl had both her arms and legs crossed. Ebony shifted around on the bed and Siva sobered up. "Well, there's a lot of things you wouldn't believe about me these days, Amber, "she said cryptically. Her tone brightened as she spoke again. "Was there something we could help you with?" She looked at the taller girl expectantly. After several moments, Amber's eyes slid away from Ebony's unable to maintain the contact. "Yeah, it's Siva's turn to wash up after breakfast. Come to think of it, we should incorporate both you and Jack into the schedule." Amber's gaze grew vacant as her mind wandered to the world of chore schedules.
Ebony rose of the bed, walking over to the doorway. "Whatever floats your boat Amber. Meanwhile, I'll be helping Siva with the dishes. You coming, sis?" She looked over her shoulder at her older sister. Siva nodded, following her. Amber straightened up and followed them downstairs.
(((((O)))))
Jack walked into his old workshop, needing the order and logic that came from working with machines as opposed to humans. The parts and tools and equipment never got over-emotional or let him down or made him feel guilty. He felt bad about the scene with Ellie, but she had given him no choice but to be blunt with her. She had always been like that and seemingly hadn't changed, picking and picking at him until he blew up and there were hurt feelings, tears and him feeling guilty. Well, no more! He was done feeling guilty, and he was done hiding. Shaking his head, he walked back out of his workshop.
Amber intercepted him on his way to the café, scattering his thoughts.. "Jack, I'm glad I caught you. I'm putting both you and Ebony on the chore roster. We all have to pitch in around here to make things work." Amber smiled over her clipboard, where she was busily altering the chore schedule.
Jack threw her a quizzical look. "Um sure, Amber," he responded hesitantly, watching her closely. "I'll be posting the new schedule later today, so be sure to check it out." She called out to him. He waved an arm over his shoulder. Amber nodded to herself, making additional notes on her clipboard. He watched her walk away, totally confused. This was not the same Amber he had spoken to the previous night. This Amber was a little vague and child-like. What had happened to her? He needed answers. He followed his original intent, heading towards the café.
"Is it just me, or is Amber a little off?" Jack addressed the room at large as he entered the café. Ebony and Siva's conversation halted at his words and Ebony put down the plate she was drying as she replied.
"She did seem a little odd when we spoke to her before, now that you mention it." She turned to her sister. "What's up with her, Siv?" The older girl placed the cup she was washing back into the soapy water and dried her hands before speaking.
"It was the experiments that did it." Her words were met with puzzled looks from both Jack and Ebony. She sighed. "Let's sit. This might take a while."
The trio sat at a nearby table and Siva began to relate the tale. "I guess you can blame my former husband Ram." Ebony's eyes goggled and Jack stiffened slightly. She gripped his leg beneath the table, stroking his thigh soothingly. "You were married to Ram!" she interjected. Siva's voice sharpened, an edge creeping into voice. "Yes I WAS. I'm not now. And we'll never get through this story if you keep interrupting." She gave her younger sister a pointed look. "Now as I was saying: Ram was doing experiments on hundreds of kids at 'camps' throughout the city and outlying sectors. He had them playing The Game and doing other things; I'm not sure exactly what. Java was more privy to his plans than I was." Ebony's eyes widened again and she opened her mouth to speak, but shut it at a look from Siva.
"Well, Amber was one of the kids hooked up to The Game, and apparently for a long time too. She was playing sixteen hours a day for months. It really affected her brain. It didn't help that during her games she had to kill her boyfriend every time in order to win. I don't know how Ram found out about him, but Amber had to kill that guy Bray over and over again." A shadow fell across Siva's visage as a dark memory hit her. "Ha! He was always good at finding where you were the weakest and exploiting it; Java too for that matter. Why if she had had her way, Lex and I would never…but that's another story."
Her hands slid to her small bump, resting almost protectively on it, circling. Jack placed a comforting arm on her shoulder and her eyes flew to his. "You don't have to continue if this is too painful." He gave a sympathetic look. She smiled back, lifting her chin imperceptibly. "No, it's okay. I've got Junior here and what do they have? Each other, exactly what they both deserve." She gently pat Jack's hand on her shoulder.
"Now where was I? Right, Amber and The Game. The Mallrats found her eventually and freed her from that lab. She was in a coma for a week afterwards. Then she woke up one night while everyone was still asleep. She left the mall and roamed the streets. She thought she was still in The Game, poor thing." Siva shook her head. "She attacked and killed a kid; when she realized what she did, she passed out then and there."
"Oh my God!" Ebony exclaimed. "Amber? Former Gaian and Leader of the Mallrats? That Amber?" Her sister nodded sadly. Ebony's hand flew up to cover her gaping mouth. She turned to look at Jack, and seeing the pain in his eyes that he felt for the experiences of his old friend, She pulled his hand over her own belly, drawing it in slow circles. She knew that this connection to their unborn child could calm him down like nothing else. He smiled down at her then ducked his head for a brief kiss, before turning back to Siva, his tone grave. "Please continue. What happened after that?"
She began again. "Jay found her, during one of his nightly patrols. He figured that they were both attacked; the City was overrun with kids fighting over The Game. He had the kid buried and Amber brought here, on account of her pentagram." She glanced down at her own tattoo, brushing her thumb over it. "She apparently slipped in and out of consciousness along the way and saw Jay as her knight in shining armor. She would only calm down while he was at her bedside, otherwise she would fight and scream. During one of those vigils, she told him everything and then blocked it from her mind.
"Most of the time she's normal. Just like she was before. But every now and again it comes back to her I guess. She fights the memories by becoming super-cheerful, you know, like an Avon lady? She shines just a little too brightly. And the most important thing in the world to her is the chore schedule. When she gets like that, we just humor her and try not to upset her too much. It usually only lasts a day or two then she's back to normal." She placed her hands palms down on the table, pushing herself to her feet.
"You know, I think I'm going to lie down now. Thinking about that time and those events always takes it out of me. Well most things take it out of me these days, thanks to Junior." She rubbed her slightly rounded tummy. "I'll talk to you two later." She slowly made her way up the main stairs, disappearing from their view.
Ebony and Jack watched Siva depart before looking to each other. Silently they communicated, visually exchanging thoughts of love and comfort. Jack hugged Ebony close, pulling her from her chair onto his lap. After a millisecond of resistance, she allowed him to lift her, saying, "I was not asking you to do this. I'm a big girl; I'm not going to fall apart."
He connected his forehead to hers, their noses touching, being so close that he could see the striations in her irises. "I wasn't expecting you to. This is for me. So I don't fall apart." He dropped his head onto her bosom, nuzzling her there, seeking solace like a child would. "When will it end? How much more will we have to endure? I don't know if I can take any more of this, honestly I don't."
She held on to him tightly, kissing the top of his head, a tear slipping from the corner of her eye. "You will make it; I'll be right here with you, making sure of it."