full chapter title: Hearts are Wild Creatures, That's Why our Ribs are Cages
few quick things. One, the flock never went to Peru. This has shown up twice now and I don't know where you got Peru. Jupiter is located in Peru, however the end of 17th takes place in Central America.
Also all my stories are available on AO3 (please don't ask me what AO3 is, just google it) including this one and the story Kingbird has been reviewing on the side. Well, Kingbird, now you have a designated place for reviews for The Zealous Servant. Truthfully I like AO3 better. It allows me to interact with my readers easier too since I can actually reply to anons and not have to do a weird round about way on my blog or on my story which I try to reserve… just for the story.
"Good job, everyone," Lucy said, it was the end of training for the day. Most of her trainees had never held a gun in their life and now most of them could hit their targets consistently, perhaps not accurately, but consistently. She'd give them more than a week before demanding both accurate and consistent hits. "That's it for today."
Lucy watched her trainees put away their mag rifles, a few snuck looks at her and she felt her stomach knot a little. She still couldn't really get some of them to stop with the whole 'angel' thing. It made her so horribly uncomfortable. She wasn't anything special, hell she wasn't even a real human. She was just… a fake girl.
She purposefully didn't look at them and busied herself with shutting down the range they had been practicing at. The men and women she'd been training filed out, talking, but she didn't join them. "Demeter," she said when they were all gone.
"Yes?" Demeter asked, appearing beside her, beautiful and proud.
"Is Jake done yet?"
"No, he isn't," she said. "He's got his hands, quite literally, rather full."
"I see," her mouth went thin a moment. "How are they?" she asked.
"They're fine," Demeter said soothingly. "They're getting ready for dinner. As you should."
"Right," she said and swallowed. But she didn't want to go to the main eating area alone. She didn't like how people looked at her. Some with awe, others disgust. She just wished they wouldn't look at her. Was this how Desmond felt when people looked at him, hoping he had the answers to their questions? The others always looked for him to provide some answer, to fix what had been broken. She hadn't realized till the others had started calling her the angel just how heavy such treatment was. Now she knew why he didn't like to talk about it, why he shied away from being a savior, a hero, a leader. It was a heavy burden not everyone was prepared to carry.
"Shall I prepare a place for you with them instead?" Demeter asked.
She looked at the hologram, "Yes," she said, "please," she added.
"I'll tell Jake where you're having your meal then. Is that all?"
"Yes, thank you," she said. Demeter smiled at her and nodded gracefully and vanished.
Lucy finished closing down the range and left. She was surprised when she came face to face with Rebecca. "Uh… can I help you?" she asked.
"What are you doing?" Rebecca asked, sounding accusatory.
"What?" she asked, still confused.
"You shouldn't be here," and Lucy swallowed. "All of us know that, know what you are."
"No you don't," Lucy said.
"You're just like her of course we do. I can't believe the others trust you. Once a traitor, always a traitor."
Lucy blinked and stepped right up to Rebecca, they were nearly the same height, but the older woman was an inch or two taller. "I am not a traitor," she said, "And you and those Assassins can think whatever you want about me. But lets get one thing straight. I am not like her. I might have her face and her voice and her memories but I am not her and I will not be held responsible for her actions, her mistakes. I am my own god damn person and if you have a problem with that Crane, then you can get the fuck out of my face," she said, giving Rebecca a look. "I didn't escape the proeathans and travel half way around the world twice to let some nobody like you put me down."
Rebecca narrowed her eyes at her. Then after a moment she said, "You're wrong though. You are like her. Cause that's exactly what she would have said," and then, to Lucy's surprise; she smiled.
"What?" Lucy asked, confused again.
Rebecca hesitated a moment, "I'm sorry," she said.
"For what?" that didn't help with her confusion.
"For being an asshole to you that time," she said. "You were dead."
"She is dead," Lucy said, "I'm not her. I just get to pretend sometimes."
Rebecca's smile was strained, "Yeah," she agreed, her voice suddenly thick. "I guess I was just expecting some freaky cloned thing when I saw you, or a ghost, or… I don't know," she shrugged.
"Its okay," Lucy said.
"Really?" Rebecca asked.
"I've literally gone through worse," Lucy said.
"You have?"
"Altair… isn't a nice man to people who he doesn't like," she said.
"Yeah, I noticed from how he treats Andrew," Rebecca said.
"Excuse me," Demeter suddenly interrupted, "Lucy, I thought you'd like to know that Jake has finished his session."
"Oh, thank you Demeter, can you tell him I'm looking for him?"
"Of course."
Rebecca looked awkward, "So… are you going to come to dinner?" she asked. She didn't though. She really really didn't. She didn't want to be stared, or people glance at her trying to be sly. She just wanted to eat in peace. Was that so hard?
She looked at Rebecca and smiled faintly, "Yeah, of course I am," and Rebecca smiled at her widely.
—
The door slid open soundlessly and she was surprised when she heard a man talking. Normally people didn't come to where Demeter was keeping the children, most didn't know where they were and to many they weren't… real. They were made by proeathans, they weren't real. It always made her angry. They were children, their children, their future, and none of the adults wanted to be with them.
It made her own status so much more pronounced. She had four years left. She was going to die in four years. She'd never have a child because of that, no matter if she one day wanted one. She wouldn't do that to whatever child she could have (if she could? She still didn't know if synthetics could or couldn't), leave them alone in this world. She might not even see the end of this war, the end of this destruction. Her stomach roiled. That she would exist to only witness the downfall of the world and not the rebirth made her dinner sour in her gut.
She took advantage of the fact that these kids were here though. She'd never have one, but that didn't mean she couldn't be important to a child, somewhere. Especially since no one wanted much to do with them and the only real figure they saw was Demeter. How awful that had to be, the only adult they knew was a holographic woman, other than her.
The secondary door opened into the big room that had soft, colorful, carpet, on the floor and yellow walls. Demeter had provided everything for the children. Toys, food, beds, clothing, Lucy had no idea how, but she had. But she stopped before entering her mind sort of unable to process just what she was seeing as real.
Cain sat on a chair, a large group, perhaps less than half of the children, gathered around him, looking up at him. He was talking, and when she listened a bit she realized he wasn't just talking, he was telling a story. He was telling the children a story and Lucy couldn't wrap her mind around it.
Slowly she entered the room and walked over to where Cain was orating. He paused and looked at her, but didn't get up, didn't say anything to her. He just paused and waited to see what she'd do. When she did nothing his focus left her and he continued. Lucy went to the edge of the group of children and sat down slowly, the ones around her noticed her instantly and soon she had three in her lap and at least half a dozen more snuggled up next to her.
Lucy listened to Cain's story in absolute awe of what was happening. That Cain, Cain the man that had been locked up and that even Altair was afraid of, was telling a story to small children. Though she'd come in Lucy picked it up quickly, it was about a woman with two sons, one a knight, the other a sorcerer.
"-It was with a heavy heart that Mosen left home, knowing that he might never return. But he took his knightly armor and his bright sword and his proud horse, and left to join the king and his armies in the south. He knew his mother and Ando would miss him, but sometimes men must make sacrifices in the world.
"With Mosen gone it was left to Ando to help his mother take care of the house and his father. Ando thought it was beneath him to do so. He was a sorcerer, he could go off and make money to hire someone to help his mother instead. But his mother said, no Ando, stay here with me. But why mother, Ando asked, why won't you let me make your life better? Because, his mother said, my life is perfect with you here, my son. If you go off like your brother who will be here for me? Who will help me while your gone making sure I'm happy? Ando had never thought of that. He'd just wanted to make his mother's life easier. So he said he would stay.
"The days passed and Ando grew irritated and angry that he and his poor mother had to get up early every day to take care of the house and then go to work. He knew he could do better for her. So despite what she wanted he said he was leaving. But Ando what will I do without you now that Mosen is gone? His mother asked as he prepared to leave. I can't take care of his house and your father by myself. What will I do?
"Mother, Ando said, I won't be gone long, not like Mosen. I promise I'll return soon, you won't even miss me. I promise. So his mother let him leave, and Ando went.
"Their mother did what she could, taking care of the house, her husband, and the work she had to do. But without her sons it was difficult, nearly impossible. It didn't help that her husband was not well.
"Weeks passed and Ando did not return as he'd promised, and neither did Mosen, as he had promised. One day, the father died, slipping away in his sleep. Stricken by grief and knowing neither of her children were there to mourn with her, she went out into the woods," Cain's voice had stropped to a stage whisper. "There she found a tree with white bark, and she knew what it was. It was the Godswood. And she said, knowing that greater powers were listening, bring my sons home. Please, return them to my house and let them sit at their childhood hearth and let him sleep under my roof.
"The Godswood has no reply for the woman and she returned home. That night she slipped away in her sleep.
"News traveled to Mosen in the army, and Ando who was in the city and when they learned that not only was their father dead, but their mother was too, they rushed home. By then their town had buried their parents and all that was left was their empty childhood home and hearth.
"They arrived at the same moment and when Mosen saw his brother he said, where were you? Why weren't you here taking care of our mother, our father? I was, Ando said, I was earning money so our mother wouldn't have to work so hard. You left them alone, Mosen accused him. And isn't what you did to us, Ando demanded and above them a storm started to come in from the north. You left us alone too Mosen, where were you to take care of our mother and father?
"The brothers quarreled for a long time, each blaming the other for their parents dying, alone, without them. Above them a storm gathered, as though summoned by their anger. Then Mosen drew his bright sword on his brother and dressed in his knightly armor he attacked his brother. And while frailer and not untrained to fight like his brother Ando was not without his own abilities. He fought back with magic, deflecting Mosen's sword strikes and trying to flee.
"Ando ran into the woods, quicker on food than his brother in his heavy, knightly, armor. He ran and ran until he came upon a tree with white bark. Gasping, tired, and afraid, he said, save me! My brother is out to kill me. Please don't let me die. I just wanted to help my mother, I didn't ask for her anger. Please, don't let me die!
The Godswood then began to glow and Ando, both afraid, and sure, touched it. The great tree flashed and Ando died.
"Mosen found him some time later, crumpled beneath the Godswood and when he saw his brother he fell to his knees and wept. This isn't what I wanted, he sobbed, I didn't mean for him to die. Oh my poor brother what has become of you? Mosen picked Ando up from the ground and leaving his bright sword behind carried him back to their parents' home and laid him down next to their childhood hearth. Night fell and Mosen slept beside his brother one last time.
"When he awoke in the morning, her saw, to his delight, that Ando was not dead," Lucy grinned a little when there were some gasps and a few little happy noises from the children. Cain paused a moment until they were quiet again. "Ando was alive, and was as amazed as Mosen. Mosen cried and hugged his brother and said he was sorry for drawing his sword on him, for wanting to hurt him, and that he'd never do it again.
"The brothers were inseparable after that, both of them gaining both great skill and power and notoriety across the land for what they could do. Mosen became a hero that songs chronicled long after his death, and Ando a great wizard that even the most ancient of tombs recognized. One was always near the other, and every year, on the day of their mother's death, they would return to their parent's home, and sleep by their childhood hearth."
And then Cain's story ended but Lucy say the way he looked about to say more, before abruptly changing his mind. Clearly his story didn't have a happy ending in truth, but for the children he'd let the story be good. Lucy started to clap, because such a telling deserved it, and a moment later all the little hands who'd been listening joined her.
"Children," Demeter's voice suddenly said and they all turned and looked at the ceiling, though the hologram didn't show themselves. "Its time for bed."
"It is?" Lucy actually asked, she had no idea what time it was, but apparently she'd been sitting there listening to Cain's story longer than she thought.
"Ms. Luly?" one of the little girls in her lap said, "Will you say goodnight to us?"
Lucy held back. She knew if she did it to one of them she'd end up having to do it for all of them. The first night she'd made the mistake of helping one of them into bed and then they'd all wanted that. They'd sort of got it into their little heads that she was like their mother, and while that was cute, there were about eight hundred of them. She'd be there for more than an hour.
"Not tonight," she said gently and gently stroked the little girl's hair. "Now do what Demeter says and get ready for bed."
"Okay," and she and the rest of the children got up. They were very well behaved, and Lucy wondered how much that had been conditioned into them by those pods she'd found them in. She supposed she wasn't exactly complaining though since wrangling three year olds was like wrangling cats. She didn't doubt they'd grow out of it as they just… forgot.
The children went off into another room to brush their teeth and get into pajamas. That left just Cain and Lucy in the room. "What's the rest of the story?" she asked.
"What makes you think there's anything more?" he asked.
"Because you aren't the sort of man who tells a sugar coated fairy tale," she said, "What happened to Ando and Mosen?"
"Mosen died," Cain said, "And Ando didn't, just like he asked."
Lucy sat there a moment, "Did he ever die?"
"In a way," Cain got up with a slight grunt. Lucy quickly scrambled to her feet.
"What are you doing here, Cain?" she asked. "How did you get out of your cell?"
"Michael let me out," he said.
"Who?" she asked.
"Ah, right," he said to himself, amused, "Hawk," he said.
"Why would he do that?"
He cocked her head at her, "Because he knows that there are things in this world worse than me."
"Like what?" she asked.
Cain's smile wasn't nice, but it wasn't mean either. He came towards her and she took a step back. "I won't hurt you," he told her. "Despite the lies Altair had filled your pretty head with, I am not a monster," he stood right in front of her.
"You seemed like one before, even without Altair telling us that. You tried to kill us-
"Ah," Cain held up his hand a bit, she stopped talking. "The only man I have ever tried to kill was my brother. Desmond was a secondary objective as far as I was concerned. But they got in my way," and Lucy swallowed. "So I killed them, like you would kill a fly."
"I'm not in your way," she said.
"No, you're not," he agreed, "So you have nothing to fear from me, girl. I would never touch you."
"Because you're not a monster," she said.
"No," he said, "I'm not."
"Then who is?"
Cain chuckled, and it was a dark sound, "That, girl, is entirely up to the viewer. Your side sees me the monster. Do you know who the proeathans think is the monster? It isn't me," and his smirk was hauty.
"Who?" she asked.
"Your little boyfriend," he said.
"He isn't— he isn't my boyfriend," she said sternly.
"Really?" he asked, "Because the way I remember it he gave himself up to save you. Even gave him a sweet little goodbye kiss," she had? She didn't remember that. "He seemed so concerned with you, more than himself. I've known women who've killed for lesser men than that."
"He isn't my boyfriend, I don't know what you think you saw, but it didn't happen."
Cain tilted his head at her a bit, "Maybe you should stop lying to yourself," he said, "Might make your strain easier."
"I'm not lying to myself," she said.
"Maybe you don't know you are. But then again, if I loved someone like him, I'd want to deny it too."
"I don't," she said, glaring at him. "And what do you even know about him?" she demanded.
"I know enough," he said, "Enough that if the proeathans are afraid, its for a good reason."
"He's not a monster," she said, personally insulted by a claim by a man who had single handedly ripped through the proeathan line at the plantation like they were cardboard. "Especially coming from you."
He grinned, "Well then like know like, doesn't it?" and that chilled her. "And where will you be when he comes back?" he asked her, "And you have to tell him you don't love him."
"I still care about him," she said.
"Lets hope that's enough then," and then his ice blue eyes looked over her shoulder, she turned but saw nothing. When she turned back around Cain was leaving.
"Cain," she called after him, but not going to follow. He paused and half turned to her. "Are you Ando?" she asked.
He smiled at her but it didn't reach his eyes, "Now wouldn't that be something," he said and turned back around, carrying on and left the big room. After he'd left the lights dimmed and Lucy heard the babbling of many young voices as the children came out to find their beds on the ground, and go to sleep.
Lucy stood, looking at where Cain had left until one of the children came up to her asking if she was going to sleep here too. She just shook her head and told them no, she wasn't sleeping here tonight.