Title: Like Mother, Like Daughter
Rating: K+
Characters: Metis and Athena Cykes, Simon and Aura Blackquill
Spoilers: Dual Destinies
Time: Some point before the UR-1 incident
"Damn it, Metis!" Aura sighed. "I told you to put taps on your zori."
"I forgot," Metis said. She was sitting at the base of the wooden ladder she had just tried to use. "Ow," she said upon trying to get to her feet.
"You might have broken something," Aura said, looking pointedly at Metis' already swollen and completely ecchymotic left ankle. Aura kneeled down. "Get on my back."
"I could just use your shoulder," Metis replied.
"Nope. You disregarded my advice once today and look where it got you," Aura said. "We're going to the Imaging Lab to get your foot X-rayed. If there's a fracture, you're going to the ER." Working in a state of the art research facility did have its advantages.
Metis shrugged, but complied with Aura's request. "Sure you can carry me?"
"You're not heavy at all," Aura snapped. "I'm stronger than I look, you know." She kicked open the records room door and started down the hall. "You do carry the rest of us, so let someone return the favor."
"You could let one of the robots carry me," Metis countered.
"The edges of bone fragments are sharp and can slide around. I don't think they're quite up to keeping your foot still. You are keeping it still, aren't you?"
"As still as I can," Metis said.
Someone turned the corner and stopped in front of them. It was Aura's brother, Simon. Metis' young daughter, Athena, was riding on his back.
"Look, Simon," Athena said. "Mama's getting a piggyback ride too!"
"Metis slipped on a ladder," Aura explained. "What's your excuse? That you're just whipped?"
"This one scraped her knee playing," Simon answered. "I'm looking for some alcohol and cotton to clean the injury. I suppose clumsiness really is genetic."
"Hey!" Metis and Athena snapped in unison.