"Wake up."
Abel grumbled and rolled over in bed.
"I'm not joking, Abel."
Abel pulled his pillow over his head.
Thawmp! A pillow slammed into Abel's side. His eyes fellow open.
"What the hell!" Abel grabbed Cain's pillow and tossed it back at his brother.
Cain caught it. His darker eyes narrowed. "Ah, good, you're up."
Abel fell back onto his bed. Like hell he was up. There was still a few good hours before they had to be up for the day.
"No, you don't." A hand wrapped around Abel's ankle.
Abel lashed out with his other foot.
Cain caught his foot.
Thud! Cold metal slammed into his bare back.
"Up, now."
"Cain!" Abel growled through gritted teeth. His eyes watered as he sat up. He glared up at his twin.
"With the party today, we don't have time to waste this morning." Cain took a seat at his desk. He pushed up his reading glasses. His glasses flashed in the dim light. His gaze stern as he looked down at Abel. "I was just noticed new personal files come in this morning and the final updates for the launch. You need to go through them before meeting with your team."
Abel scowled. He looked at the clock. Just great, where the hell did Cain get the brilliant idea they needed four bloody hours for this crap? They were only losing two with Seth's birthday party.
Whatever.
Abel stood and pulled on his shirt. The fine material caught on his callused fingers. He stalked over to his computer and sat down, back a little to Cain.
"Bastard," Abel muttered, letting the word fall from his thin lips as a breath.
"You do realize, calling me such reflects on yourself as well," Cain pointed out. He didn't look up from the holograph screen he was reading.
Abel huffed. "Whatever."
He pulled up the latest reports on those assigned under him. There were a few changes here and there. One of the pilots joining them had finally been assigned his position when they reached Mars and a little while off the bridge on the month-long trip there.
Alexander Barvon.
Abel frowned.
His records were clean, and he was recorded as the pilot who'd broken every record on the flying simulator. Yet, all he'd ever flown were shuttles too and form Lunar Base.
A small snort escaped Abel.
Not shocking. That was the extent of most pilots' experience. Only a few had made the trip to Mars when Isaac, the bastard in charge of the UN, had gone there to scout out locutions long before Abel had been created.
Abel shoved the thought of Isaac down. He wasn't important.
Instead he looked over Warrant Officer Barvon's skills. He would have been more suited for another field than security, mainly just piloting. Though, this wouldn't have been useful to the colony full time. Thus, Abel got stuck with several pilots, not just Barvon. In fact, all the pilots who didn't have useful skills where under him.
More than just useless pilots, Abel had another man who might not be the best. He hadn't moved up in rank in over nine years. His records stated he had issues with authority and more. Private First Class Arthur Asran, the husband to one Sonya Asran.
It was more than official, the UN hated Abel.
Several useless pilots and an experienced private with personality issues.
Abel leaned back in his seat, frowning.
Granted, there was no telling their real skill until Abel met them. Especially Private Asran and Warrant Officer Barvon. Barvon would be the one to keep an eye on as he had never worked security before. Arsan had uses as he'd been working security since he had left basic training. He'd worked at Lunar Base before being transferred to the mine he'd been working at for nine years before now.
Abel's eyes narrowed.
This must have been how the UN had finally snagged Sonya, through her husband.
Abel turned his attention to another late addition.
First Lieutenant Solomon.
His skin crawled.
Just what Abel needed on his team, a damn UN rep's son.
His frown deepened.
A rep's son? What rep would send their heir to Mars? Solomon was the oldest, right? It meant he was supposed to take his father's place as the India Representative, right?
Abel leaned forward.
Ah, there it was. Solomon wasn't the heir. His younger sister was.
Odd.
Solomon was veritable genius. He graduated college at the age of eight and was currently the leading expert in genetic weaponry as well as second on Mars and leading in so many other science fields, it was no wonder he was supposed to help Seth when he had a moment free.
Strangest of all, he was Seth's age, being only twenty. Beating Seth to twenty by less than a week. He wasn't enhanced which just made his accomplishments all the more impressive.
Abel shivered.
He was genetic scientist though which, even if he wasn't a UN rep's son, made him untrustworthy… right?
Abel rubbed his eyes.
No. He had to reserve judgement for the sake of his family and their future. Any number of these people could end up helping them. All Abel had to do was be nice…
And let go of his temper.
His lips twitched.
All right! Abel needed to try and get this lot to like him.
It was going to be an impossible task.
x – Seth – x
Seth's bare feet slapped against the rough pavement. "Come on," she muttered each time she passed the boy's locker room. "Where are they?" Seth huffed. She stopped and placed her hands on her hips. She glared at the entrance.
A soft laugh came from Lilith. "We did arrive a little early, Seth. Be patient."
Easy for Lilith to say.
Seth shifted, itching to leap into the water with her brothers and Lilith. To play in it like she was normal and not some creation meant to lead humanity. Seth grinned until her face hurt. This was the best gift her brothers could have given her. Though, it had to have been Abel's plan despite Cain getting it from the general.
She bounced on the balls of her feet.
Oh, there were so many games she'd read up on last night. But only two hours…
Two hours was more than enough time. Seth giggled. Oh, yes, this was going to be prefect. If she could get Abel into the water that was.
"Seth," Lilith's voice trembled with laughter, "calm down. There's plenty of time."
Seth huffed. "We only have two hours." She turned to Lilith as Seth's eyes widened. "Two!" She held up two fingers. "It'll go by so fast."
"It's better than none." Lilith gave her a warm smile. Her golden eyes soft.
"Yes!" Seth nodded. "It is!"
Feet slapped against the wet cement.
Seth turned. "You're here!" She raced over to her brothers. "You're finally here!" She flung her arms around Cain's waist.
Cain stiffened.
Seth hugged tighter. So what if her oldest brother couldn't take a hug. She'd hug him anyway!
"Thank you so much!" Seth cheered.
A hand brushed through her short hair. Black strands tickled her forehead.
"Cain," she giggled.
"You're not wet." Cain's stomach moved with his normal almost dull sounding laugh. "Once you're in the pool, you can thank me."
Abel muttered under his breath. He moved off and set down his towel. There was a flash of smooth white before it vanished under the towel.
Lilith moved after Abel. "You're not going to sit on the side, are you?" she asked.
Seth's heart fluttered. She hoped Abel would get into the water willingly. This wasn't like their training here where the general just shoved Abel in every time. Or threatened him. It was supposed to be fun.
It did matter if her dear, sweet brother joined them. But, right now…
Seth grabbed Cain's hand. "Come on!" She pulled her brother towards the diving board.
"Don't run you two!" Lilith called after them.
Seth glanced back. The two of them had moved to the edge of the pool. Lilith's gaze moved from Seth and Cain to Abel. She was whispering something to him while he looked sheet white.
Yes! All of them would have fun together in the pool if Lilith got Abel in.
Seth released Cain's hand when they reached the diving board. "Bet I can beat you in a dive!" Seth grinned, puffing out her chest.
"Depends," – a shadow of a smile flickered at the corner of Cain's lips – "on what the contest is. Biggest or smallest splash?"
"Smallest!" Seth declared. She leapt up the ladder and looked down at Cain.
His eyes were locked on her, expression calm.
Seth shot him a grin. She raced down the board, feeling it bend under her weight. She leapt.
"Yahooooo!"
Seth twisted. She flipped into a diving form. Her hands pierced the water as one of her daggers would the metal of a robot in the maze.
Water enveloped her, silencing the sounds of Lilith coaxing Abel into the water. Nothing but the soft sway of the water could be heard. The darkness of the pool's depths wrapped around her sight as she continued down, deeper and deeper into the pool.
She could do it. Her fingers brushed the button.
Yes!
She punched the water before kicking off from the bottom. Her lungs screamed, head light with the need for air.
She burst through the surface, scattering water droplets around her.
"Beat that!" her shout echoed through the large room.
Cain was already on the diving board. A small smile on his narrow face. "I would if you moved," his voice was light.
"Fine, fine, I'm moving." Seth swam to the side of the pool. She caught glimpses of Abel and Lilith near the pool edge as she went.
Lilith had swum further in and was gesturing for Abel to join them. Abel sat the edge, his legs in.
Seth paused, mouth open. Her heart fluttered. Her dearest brother might finally get over his fear. While not a silly one as it had stimmed from when Cain had thrown him off a ship when Seth had been really young, it was still a matter Seth never thought she would see. Abel with his legs in the pool.
Abel breathed. He pushed himself further off the ledge.
"That's it," Lilith's gentle voice echoed through the space. "You're a strong swimmer," she continued. "Trust yourself."
Abel released the edge. He slid into the water, head above the surface. He swam forward in a mock breaststroke without once dipping his head under. He made it to Lilith. A scowl twisted his lips. All color had drained from his face.
"You see," – Lilith's smile lit her face. Her golden eyes sparkled – "the water isn't so bad when no one is shoving you into it."
"I guess," Abel muttered.
Lilith's hand sliced through the water. A small splash came towards Abel.
"What the hell?" Abel shouted. He shook his head as if he were a dog trying to dry itself.
"Water isn't the enemy, Abel. It won't hurt you. Not when contained like this."
"You didn't have to splash me!" Abel turned and glared at Cain. "What are you gawking at? You're keeping all of us waiting, especially Seth."
Cain's eye twitched. "I was waiting on the two of you to be quite done with whatever you were doing."
"Just dive already!" Abel snapped. His face tinged red and gaze darted away from Cain.
Seth shrugged. She held to the wall as she edged further from the diving board. When she was a safe distance away, she kicked off for a better view of Cain's dive.
Cain moved to the end of the board. It sagged further under his weight than it had for Seth. He backed onto the balls of his feet. A perfect divers form for the backflip dive. He crouched.
With a swing of his arms he leapt from the board. He back flipped before going into a diver's form.
His body pierced the water as if he were nothing more than the smallest of drops hitting it. A small ripple raced over the surface where he had vanished.
Seth's heart sank.
There had never been a real chance at her winning, but still… she had practiced every chance they could use the diving board. She had thought her running dive would do it. The splash she'd made was still far greater than Cain's even if it would have been passing for her to compete if she hadn't been enhanced.
Water exploded around Seth. It shot into her mouth. Her nose and lungs burned from a sudden inhale of the chlorinated water.
Cain smirked at her under the water where he held her.
Seth stuck out her lip. Her nose scrunched up.
Mean!
The water rippled around her.
A shadow moved up from below Cain.
He was yanked further down.
Seth blinked. She watched the air bobble race up and Cain's eyes go wide.
Then, Cain lashed out with his free foot.
A larger air bobble floated up.
Seth's lungs screamed. She floated back to the surface. Air slammed into her and she gulped it down.
The surface broke before her as Cain appeared. His eyes glittered as he pushed his long hair from his eyes. Even now it was in the ponytail he always wore. The now dark strands kept slipping from it as if the struggle below had loosened her brother's always neat hair.
"That wasn't funny." Cain pulled his wet hair from the ponytail and ran his fingers through to sooth it back.
The water broke again. Abel appeared, coughing. "What the hell? Take a bloody joke and don't go kicking me!"
"It was only in the shoulder," Cain pointed out. He bound his wet hair. "Besides, you had it coming when you pulled me down."
Seth looked at Cain.
"You started it when you pulled Seth under."
Her gaze snapped back to Abel.
"You would have pulled me down to the bottom and held me there!"
Back to Cain.
"Only for a moment."
To Abel.
"You could have killed us both."
Cain.
"As if!" Abel's eyes blazed. "You couldn't even resist showing off your dive. Prideful bastard!"
Abel.
"Enough!" Lilith thrust herself between Seth's brothers.
Seth rubbed her neck.
"Abel, you shouldn't call Cain that."
"Oh, I really should. Someone has to make sure his fat head doesn't get bigger." Abel placed his hands by his head and moved them away. "It's fat enough as it is."
"That's it!" Cain launched himself towards Abel.
Lilith shoved Cain back. "Enough means enough."
Abel and Cain glared at each other.
"Abel, stop taunting your brother."
Abel's eyes narrowed.
"Cain, we're here for fun, not to go into a physical fight. You should know better by now and just ignore his taunts."
Seth giggled. Her dear brothers would never change. She pushed herself through the water and leapt up. Her arms wrapped around their neck. They were forced close when she fell back towards the water.
"You're both jerks," – Seth grinned – "but you're my jerks!" Seth pouted. She couldn't add Lilith to the embrace. Lilith wasn't a jerk though so it might be wrong to do so.
"Then there's Lilith." Abel pulled her into the group hug. "Our overbearing, bossy, mother-like figure."
Seth glared at Abel. "She's not bossy, you jerk!"
Lilith blushed. Water flew into Abel's face. "You," – she let out a shuddering breath – "you're just a jerk and will always be one."
Abel smirked. "Seems you and Seth agree then."
Lilith shook her head. "Should we play a game? We still have plenty of time left."
A game? "Yeah!" She lurched up.
"Seth," Cain warned.
"Sorry." She lowered herself back down. She'd used her brothers' shoulders when she leapt up.
Abel flinched.
Seth flushed. "I shouldn't have shouted, sorry, brother."
"It's fine," Abel grumbled. He rubbed his ear.
"What do you want to play?" Lilith asked.
"I get to choose," Seth breathed. This, it was amazing. There were so many games… well not really any she knew outside of the training exercises for team building. "Pool basketball! I call dibs on Abel." She flung her arms around her dearest brother.
Abel gasped. The two of them plunged under the water.
They reemerged.
Abel spat out a mouth full. "All right, just no more dunking me."
The swam into a shallower part of the pool. It was the shallowest point being about five feet deep. Seth had to tread water.
"Ready?" Lilith asked. She held the ball up with Abel and Cain between.
"Just serve it already," Abel growled.
Lilith tossed the ball into the air. She shot off towards a defensive position for her and Cain's team.
Cain and Abel lunged into the air.
Cain snagged the ball and made to move around Abel.
Abel grabbed for the ball.
Seth grinned. She ducked into the water. Her body slid through the water towards her brothers. She kept low, her stomach almost brushing the bottom of the pool.
Water swirled around her. It was churned up by the boys, fighting over the ball. They had stalled as always near the center of the "court." Cain might have been stronger than Abel, but Abel was good at getting in the way of Cain.
There.
Seth pushed off from the ground. She launched out of the water and took hold of the ball.
"Yes!"
Abel slipped into the water the moment Seth had appeared.
He shot around Cain and deeper into their brother's and Lilith's territory.
Seth twisted around Cain's lung. She might not have been able to go head to head with him but keeping from his reach was a matter she was good.
Abel would appear near the hoop.
Seth thrust the ball into the air with all her might.
Cain lunged up. The ball arched over his fingers.
"Damn." Cain fell back into the pool.
Seth giggled. "Knife throwing practice." She placed two fingers before her eye in their salute.
Cain smiled and returned to salute. "You've been practicing hard then."
Lilith raced through the water towards the ball.
Abel appeared. He caught the ball midleap, twisted, and threw it.
Lilith lunged.
Her fingers brushed the ball but missed.
It slipped through the neat with a whoosh.
The game continued for the better part of the time they had the pool for. Abel and Seth led through most of it, using teamwork they had built up in the maze and in the pool over the years. Lilith and Cain didn't speak with one another much. They had never been a good team though. Which was why Hall always stuck them together. Perhaps the general wanted them to work together better.
"It's time," Cain called an end to the game.
Lilith smiled. "I do think you two beat us," she informed Seth and Abel.
Time? Seth frowned, her heart sinking. She glanced at the clock. There was still a good thirty minutes before their two hours were up.
Abel scowled. "We agreed twenty before not thirty," he snapped at Cain. "You're just being sore loser."
Cain shrugged. He waded to the edge and pulled himself out of the pool. "Then keep playing with Seth for ten minutes."
"What's going on?" Seth tracked her oldest brother and Lilith as they crossed to where they'd placed their towels by the wall.
Abel grumbled and followed them from the pool. He was sickly white.
Seth's heart fluttered.
Sweet Abel, he'd gotten over his fear long enough to play with her in the pool.
Seth nodded. She could give up thirty minutes of fun for her dearest brother.
There was no sign of Lilith. Her towel had vanished with her.
"Where's Lilith?" Seth asked as she pulled herself from the pool.
"Locker room," Abel grunted. He had dried most of his body which revealed the white object she had seen flash when he'd come in. It was a box.
Seth frowned. The package looked like the stories of presents she'd heard about. Sure, her brothers and their dad, Doctor Thomas Hall, had once before given her items on her birthday but they hadn't been wrapped. Unless one counted two bags of stolen sweets from the kitchens and a few books their dad had passed her.
Lilith reappeared. Her towel was around herself and her hands were behind her back.
"What's going on?" Seth moved to join her family.
"Come and see." Cain gave her one of his bored smiles.
A shiver raced through Seth. She wrapped towel tighter around her shoulders as she joined her family.
"Lilith's first," Cain instructed.
Abel rolled his eyes.
Lilith's what first? Seth frowned.
Lilith settled herself beside Seth. "Happy birthday." Her warm smile lit her face as she held out a small box to Seth.
Was this? Seth's eyes widened. No, it couldn't be, could it? Her heart swelled with warmth.
A present!
"Take it," Abel urged. His voice was soft almost gentle and filled with a warm love.
Lilith looked at him out of the corner of her.
Abel's face reddened. "What?" His true voice vanished with a surge of annoyance replacing the warmth.
A giggled bubbled up in Seth. That was just her dear brother.
Her hands trembled as she took the present. A ringing filled Seth's ears. Her heart fluttered.
Seth creaked open the box.
A gasp fled her lips. "It's beautiful!" She pulled out a small, metal butterfly.
The wings were made of different metals, each placed to form a colored pattern. Every detail was so interictally placed it was like looking at a metal tented, living butterfly.
"You're amazing, thank you, Lilith!" Seth hugged the older woman.
A long, pretty chain was connected to the stomach of the butterfly. Seth slipped the chain on.
"That's not all. Cain pulled a frame from under his towel.
Abel huffed.
"I know I'm a terrible artist, but I thought this would be fitting." He held out a picture.
He wasn't a bad artist as the image showed very realistic versions of all four of them. Seth stood between her brothers in the sketch with Lilith behind her.
"It's amazing," Seth breathed as she took the framed image. She hugged the pictured to her. "I'll keep it always, promise, Cain." Her heart almost burst. So much time spent on her. So much love. She had the greatest family in the world! No, not just the world, the entire universe!
"Last gift." Abel held out the box he had.
"Oh." Seth's eyes widened. Another present. Her heart fluttered as she took it. A small breath tumbled from her.
Her hands shook as she opened this box. A messy, small, round cake was nestled in the box.
"Abel made it," Lilith informed her. Her gaze softened as she looked from Seth to Abel.
"You made it?" Seth breathed. She stared at her brother.
He nodded.
"It'll taste terrible then," Cain teased in a flat voice.
Abel growled.
"Boys," Lilith warned.
Abel huffed and fell back against the wall. "I wasn't going to tackle him," he muttered.
"Of course you weren't." Lilith shook her head.
The cake was far too big for just herself. Seth ripped off a piece of the box. "Let's share it!" She sliced the cake into four pieces.
Abel gaped. "It's for you, Seth."
"I want to share it." Seth pouted, making her eyes wide.
Abel shifted.
Cain shrugged.
"All right," – Cain nodded – "but only if you take the first bite. It's a normal custom for the birthday girl."
Abel shot him a glare. "You also have to take the largest slice."
Seth flushed. The slices weren't that uneven, but they were still a little so with one of the slices being bigger than the others.
"It's also a custom."
"How do you two know that?" Lilith frowned at the two of them.
"Internet," Cain shrugged at the same time Abel grunted this.
A giggle fled Seth. It was so rare they spoke in unison.
Lilith sighed and rubbed her eyes. "Why am I not shocked?"
"Deal!" Seth took the slices and passed them out among her family. She lifted her own slice. She braced herself incase Cain was right, and the cake tasted nasty. She took a small nibble. Her eyes widened. "It's delicious!" She took another small bite, savoring the sweet, rich flavors.
Cain took a small bite of his own slice. "You're right." His eyes had gone wide. "I can't believe you made something eatable."
"Shove off!" Abel snapped before he took a large bite of his slice. A content hum came from him.
Lilith laughed, her hand up to her mouth. She'd started on her own slice as well.
All but Abel nibbled on the cake as if trying to draw it out and make it last as long as possible. Abel down his slice in a few large bites. He licked the frosting off his fingers.
"Thanks for the cake." Seth smiled at her brother. She licked the last crumbles from her fingers. It hadn't lasted nearly long enough. "It was the best one ever!"
Abel stretched out on the ground. A small smile pulled at his lips. The smile was far better than his normal scowl and lit his wintery eyes.
"One day, all of us will be able to eat sweets whenever we want," his voice took a dreamy note even as the light died a little in his eyes and smile faltered. "That'd be great. To live, be free, and eat sweets!"
Cain huffed as he settled himself beside Abel. He poked Abel in his well-muscled stomach. "You'd get fat. Fat doesn't suit you one bit."
"Shove off!" Abel snapped.
Seth crawled over to them and wiggled between them. "What would eat then, Cain?"
"Hmm," – Cain rubbed his chin, frowning – "if I had to choose, Chinese food. We only got it once and it was so good." His eyes glittered with a softer smile replacing his bored look. "It's far better than sweets any day."
Abel gaped.
Seth giggled.
"What do you want, Seth?" Lilith asked as she moved to Abel's side and joined them splayed out on the concrete floor.
"Indian food!" Seth declared, punching the air. "It's so yummy." She licked her lips. Just thinking about it made her mouth water with the remembered spicy and yummy flavors. "What about you, Lilith?"
"For all of you to be happy and safe."
Abel snorted. "That's not a food."
It was just like Lilith though. Seth smiled.
"All right," Lilith laughed. "I suppose, I would want Indian, Chinese, and sweets."
Cain rolled eyes. "That's not your favorite, it's ours," he pointed out.
"That's sweet of you," Abel's voice came as a breath.
Seth shifted.
His voice had been so soft, had Seth even been meant to hear it?
It didn't matter. What mattered as all around her. She snuggled against Abel's arm and wrapped her hand into Cain's. Her family. If only they could stay in this moment forever. To never have it interrupted by General Hall storming in and shouting at them to get back to work. To just linger here in the warmth of her family.