"And you're positive Sycorax will be able to succeed in this treatment plan for his tumor?" Kim asked, her arms crossed, leaning against a table.
"Of course." Liv smiled, her arms folded behind her back. "We have all the medical tools and advances needed. However, it is still an experimental treatment so your husband will be very much a trial run. But we promise, we will treat him well. You've been looking for answers and you're willing to do whatever it takes, right?"
Kim glanced to the side.
"I… I suppose… You promise he will be safe?"
Liv nodded.
"I do. He'll be treated very well under our care. You want him to live a good long healthy life right?"
"Yes…"
"Then please, let us take him into our hands and give him that life he deserves."
Yeah… Sure. More like "Give him to us so we can have a lab rat because of how special his condition is but oh no don't worry he'll be treated like a king." Please…
Trina never could forget the day her father was taken from her. Her mother never knew that she had eavesdropped on her conversation with Liv. She usually respected her mother's privacy with clients but… this one was an exception.
Liv just didn't feel right to her. The look in her eyes, the way she carried herself, how she spoke to others, it all felt so fake to her. If Trina didn't know better she would think the woman was some kind of alien trying to pose as a human with how she acted.
And that's where I have to stop watching too many sci-fi movies before bed.
Trina shook her mind of it, focusing on the moment at hand.
Now was not the time to be bitter. It was a time to be happy.
Trina stood outside the door of a patient room, a basket that contained an assortment of goodies held tightly to her chest, Takashi standing next to her.
"Do you think we should come back later?" she asked. "I mean, maybe we should wait till all the surgery stuff is done."
Takashi placed a hand on her shoulder, giving it a squeeze.
"You can give him something to look forward to after the surgery stuff is over. Besides, you've wanted to see him for over a year now. Do you want to wait longer?"
"No… just…" Trina lowered her head. "... Call me nuts I'm just… worried he wouldn't want to see me right now. Liv always rubbed me the wrong way and I just worry what she did to his head. What if… he doesn't remember me?"
Takashi's look turned gentle, bringing her into a side hug.
"I doubt that's the case. Who could forget someone as awesome as you?"
Trina giggled.
"Taka…"
"I mean it. But, it's up to you if you want to see him now."
Trina looked at the door again, pondering for a moment before giving a nod.
"Let's say hi."
They both moved forward, Takashi knocking on the door.
"Come in."
Trina's heart skipped a beat at hearing her father's voice. The most she had been able to hear of it in recent times was old videos her mother had recorded, be it him doing things on his own time or when he was spending time with her or listening to old voicemails on her phone.
Trina took a deep breath before opening the door, entering the room, Takashi behind her.
Her eyes were wide as she beheld Obake. While his hair was different in how it was styled and he was a little on the paler side, there was no questioning it was her father. Especially with the red streak in his hair that she knew all too well.
Obake's eyes were wide too as he stared back at Trina. It was the real Trina. The daughter he had raised for over ten years. The daughter he spoiled to the moon and back.
My Little Star…
"H… Hi…" Trina whispered, moving closer to the bed.
"Hello…" He said, sitting up a little.
Trina swallowed hard, trying her best to keep it together.
"It's…. It's been awhile…" Trina fumbled with the basket in her hands, lowering her head a little. "You… remember me… right?"
Obake tipped her chin up, his eyes glassy with tears.
"How could I ever forget my Little Star?"
Trina smiled, biting her lip.
"Daddy…"
She set the basket down, bringing her arms as gently as she could around Obake, huddling close to him.
"Oh, Daddy! It's really you!" She cried out, burying her face into his shoulder.
Obake hugged her as tightly as he could, running his hand through her hair.
"Trina…"
She really is alive… My dear daughter…
He took in everything he could from this moment. Her warmth, the softness of her hair, the tenderness of her embrace… He had forgotten what this actually felt like. He had moments with the bot version of her daughter but… nothing could ever replace what he was feeling right now.
Obake rested his head against hers, sighing happily.
"I'm home…"
Trina nodded, nuzzling him.
"You are… You really are."
She pulled back away from him gently, cupping his face in her hands.
"Sorry just… I'm just so happy to see you again."
Obake smiled gently, placing his hands over hers.
"I think I can understand how you feel entirely." He leaned forward, kissing her forehead.
Trina giggled, keeping close.
"I never stopped looking for you. I promised that no matter what would happen, I would always keep looking for you."
"Oh, Trina…"
Trina smiled.
"What would I be without my partner in crime?"
Obake chuckled, cupping one her cheeks in his hand.
"An amazing young lady. Least, I think so."
Trina leaned into his hand.
"Dad…"
They embraced each other again for a moment before Trina pulled away, picking up the basket she had brought in.
"I know you can't eat for a bit because surgery reasons but I got your favorites in here along with get better food for when you can. Packets of miso soup, bottled water, chocolate and, courtesy of Takashi over there, freshly baked mini blueberry scones."
Obake looked over to Takashi, who was currently leaning against a wall in the room. He gave a small wave, along with a sheepish look.
"Trina said it would make a good first impression… Also, your wife and Shaylin said you deserved better than that scone you had stashed in your backpack."
Obake rolled his eyes but couldn't help but chuckle.
"I suppose they're right… Well, thank you. I look forward to eating all of this once I'm in the clear from surgery." Obake set the basket on the side table next to his bed before looking back to Takashi. "Though, I wouldn't mind a proper introduction."
Takashi gave a bow.
"Takashi Sky. I'm Shaylin's eldest son. Trina and I have been buddies for about a year now."
"Yep." Trina smiled. "We bonded over martial arts. He's my…" She giggled, putting her hands together. "Senpai~!"
Obake brought a hand over his mouth, trying not to laugh too hard.
Takashi chuckled, rolling his eyes.
"Yes, yes, she's my good little kohai. She can totally kick anyone's butt though."
"That's my girl." Obake smiled. "Thank you for being a good friend to her, Takashi. Oh, and you have made a good first impression."
"Awesome." Takashi grinned.
Trina smiled, taking one of Obake's hands into hers.
"Really glad to have you back, Dad. We got a lot to catch up on."
Obake smiled, squeezing her hand.
"And I look forward to hearing every last bit of it."
oooooo
"I'm going to kill that devil woman the next time I see her." Kim growled, her eyes narrowed.
She and Shaylin were looking over Obake's charts and treatment plans that were on his USB via Kim's computer. They detailed everything they needed to know about his implant and how to go about handling it along with his tumor. It disgusted both Kim and Shaylin how the implant worked and what it had been doing to Obake for the past year.
"I'm in line right behind you." Shaylin said, her own eyes narrowed. "I'm afraid to know what she would've done to Takashi if I had let her get near him when I called her in for opinions on his condition."
"Poke, prod, see what makes him tick and I dunno, maybe turn him into her pet." Kim sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "I honestly don't know anymore. I already had a low opinion of her as it were, now it's hit to levels of words I would never say in front of my daughter."
"Si, si." Shaylin shook her head. "Well, we can plan to murder her reputation later. Right now, we need to help Bob." Shaylin turned her attention to his surgery notes. "So, we can't dismantle the implant. It's too embedded into the skull and would be risky to remove. So, instead, we're reprogramming it to work to his advantage and deactivating the shock collar function." Shaylin raised an eyebrow. "I'm surprised he wants the thing to still be active at all, though."
"Well, seeing as it could act as an aid to keep the tumor from returning, I can see why in that regard. And… Okay, I'll give Liv credit, giving him the ability of technokinesis is quite the feat she pulled and I can see why he'd keep it since it would have plenty of uses outside of whatever she had him do for her. Though, we're going to need some help in regards to the tech. I'm a neurosurgeon, not a bio tech surgeon."
"Let me take care of that part. I'm gonna call in Eboni since this is right up her alley."
"Ah, good idea. Then I'll just focus on the tumor." Kim frowned as she looked at the scan, showing the state of it. "I never thought I'd see it that big."
"It's bad but you can handle it, right?"
Kim nodded.
"I've been testing a procedure for years now to remove it. I'll have to make tweaks to it but I'm sure it's going to work. It has to. For his sake."
"Then we have a plan."
Shaylin closed the charts, getting up.
"I'll go get the O.R. prepped and call in Eboni. We won't start the procedure till everyone has gotten a proper rest but at the very least, everything will be ready."
"Right." Kim got up as well. "I'm going to go talk to Bob. I have some catching up to do."
"Sounds good."
The women parted ways, heading for their own respective destinations.
Kim quietly opened the door to Obake's room, peeking inside to see if he was awake. Her heart melted as she saw him fast asleep with Trina curled up to his side, her arms around him.
Kim smiled softly, making her way into the room, closing the door behind her. She grabbed an extra blanket from one of the cabinets, draping it over Trina, who smiled in her sleep, nuzzling her father's chest.
"Sweet dreams, Little Star." Kim whispered, kissing her head before looking to Obake, kissing his head as well. "You too, my love."
Obake smiled a bit in his sleep, nuzzling her a little. Kim nuzzled back before pulling away, making herself comfortable on the guest bed in the room. She took one last look at Obake and Trina before closing her eyes, drifting off to sleep.
Don't worry, Bob. I'll cure you soon.
I promise.