"I'm home, and I brought Naomi." Aelita informed.
Anthea was the first to greet the two, enveloping both girls in a hug.
"We're so glad you decided to spend the night. Did your parents think it was alright?" Anthea spoke.
"They don't mind, I didn't have to tell them. As long as I'm back by tomorrow morning it's fine." Naomi assured.
She didn't want her to know about the fact that she talked to Nori more.
"Naomi didn't you say something earlier about your da-"
"Yeah, that dabbling in welding wasn't the best idea. I welded turrets onto the pillars in the factory in case anymore enemies decided to show." Naomi interjected.
Aelita glared at Naomi who couldn't see since her eyes were shut as she smiled. Naomi knew Aelita was going to berate her later but Naomi thought it was the best thing to do at the moment.
"We're going in my room." Aelita stated as she placed Naomi's left wrist in a grappling hold while practically dragging the older girl upstairs.
After slamming the door shut with her 'victim' sitting on her bed, Aelita decided to finally let Naomi have it.
"Why did you do that? It's not nice or right to lie; no matter the reason." Aelita fussed.
"Your dad knows how I feel 'bout ma folks." Naomi answered with her arms crossed.
"Now you're doing it again. If you have a problem with compulsive lying you can tell me. It's my job as your friend to mkae sure you're alright." Aeltia droned.
"Naomi shook her head.
"Huh? I think ya got it all mixed up princess. My dad called her once." Naomi stated.
"When was that?" Aelita wondered.
"I don't remember ya can ask since ya don't believe me." Naomi commented.
Aelita went to ask Franz if he did receive a call from Dr. Kamizono.
"It was some time lat month if I'm not mistaken." Franz remembered.
Aelita went back upstairs with her head hung down in shame.
"I'm sorry I didn't believe you Naomi." Aelita apologized.
"It's aight pinky. I've lied 'fore." Naomi answered.
"Were you srious about swapping your sister for me?" Aelita wondered.
"Heck yeah. You know what? We should totally do that one day!" Naomi smiled.
"Wouldn't your parents be mad?" Aelita sondered.
"They definitely would be but it's fine as long as they knew where she was." Naomi assured.
"Maybe you could do it as a prank." Aelita suggested.
"I replaced the regular coffee with decaf once and Copen didn't notice a thing." Naomi snickered.
"Is that why you're dead?" Aelita teased.
Naomi laughed so hard she had her arms folded over her stomach as she fell onto the floor on her side laughing.
"Sorry man, it's just that I, dang I wasn't expectin' that kinda reaction." Naomi cackled.
"How did you die though?" Aelita pondered.
Naomi huffed, folded her arms and looked the other way.
"I'd be happy to inform you actually that I've had Rebirth Septima all along. And I'm only dead sometimes, not all the time. My Azure Striker creates an artificial pulse since your heart runs off an EMP. That's why defib machines work.
Though the pulse gets weird since it moves. One day its in ma knee, then ma stomach. The thing 'bout the Azure Striker is the Septimas gotta recharge. So while it's doin that, I'm dead.
Luckily I can recharge it lightnin' quick. An' it only takes up energy when I use ma Septima since it puts a heavier load on ma body. Just the fact that I have it makes me able ta fake a pulse." Naomi elucidated.
"So you can be alive one second and dead the next? Are there things that can cause a sudden change?" Aelita wondered.
"When they say what doesn't kill you makes you feel alive they ain't kiddin'. When I get scared, ma pulse goes crazy." Naomi laughed.
"I don't want to be rude or anything but what's the worst thing that's ever happened to you?" Aelita asked.
"Oh, I dunno. Hard ta tell if it was dyin, poor Mytyl what happened ta 'er, Copen wantin' ta kill me, bein' experimented on, feelin the whole darn S-FIT incident is ma fault, long story short I have no ghas dang idea." Naomi replied.
Both girls sat in silence for a moment.
"Dinner's ready." Anthea announced.
"Coming." The girls responded in unison as they went downstairs.
The dinner consisted of pork chops with a brown grazy, mashed potatoes and sweet peas with salt, pepper and butter. They drank lemonade and had chocolate brownies for dessert.
"That was the best Ms. Anthea. You could teach the cooks a thing or two." Naomi complimented.
Anthea smiled.
When Naomi went to pick up her dishes, Anthea stopped her.
"I've got it dear." Anthea assured.
"I swear I was born with a gold spoon in my mouth because I've never cleaned anything. There's nothing really in my room to clean up anyways. We've got cooks, doctors, a lady who can make the record for the worlds most annoying housekeeper. "Besides, I've wanted to see what washing dishes is like." Naomi smiled as she grabbed her dishes and put them in the sink with some soap.
Franz played the piano while Anthea read a book in the living room, secretly content to get some assistance with the dishes. Aelita sat in the kitchen at the table with Naomi while she washed the dishes.
"You do know the prhase is being born with a silver spoon in your mouth right?" Aelita questioned.
"Being born with a spoon of any material in your mouth is impossible. But yeah, I know it means to be spoiled from birth. Which I am." Naomi remarked.
"I don't think so. How are you spoiled? What makes you think that?" Aelita interrogated.
"Well, for starters, like I just said. I've never washed a dish or cleaned my room. Though there's really nothing to clean. My job pays really well and tailors to my interests of ending the Sumeragi. My main reason for saying what I did was because a lot of people with the kind of money my parents have pay people like Nori to take care of their kids.
My aunt actually gives my mom money since my aunt is my moms sister and doesn't want to see her in debt or anything. I love her to death don't get me wrong but when she visits, it's always bright smiles, frilly dresses, hair and all done by the housekeeper, yuck. Anyways that's not the point. The point is, kids with nannies very rarely if ever see their parents.
But I'm the kind of kid that's lucky enough to see my parents every day. And have parents that love me makes it all the better. And that they love each other still is awesome too because I've heard of a lot of sticky situations with divorces and children thrown in the middle and such." Naomi elucidated.
"Then why the strained relationship?" Aelita queried.
"I was worried my mom wouldn't like having an Adept for a daughter. Mighta gauged my dads reaction. I know he hates Adepts and after what Asimov did I can't say I blame him. I know he hates Adepts so I keep feeling he hates me and doesn't show it. And, I know this is a big jump, but I think I might have thirteen Septimas." Naomi responded.
"What makes you think that?" Aelita pondered.
"I've got Azure Striker, Angered Explosion, Muse, Spiral, Hydro Pressure, Psychokinesis, Gravity, Radiant Fetters, that allows me to stop enemies with Septimas from using them, Rebirth, that plant Septima, some Hot and Cold and Permafrost. Hot and Cold is basically a mix of Permafrost and Angered Explosion. That's the biggest thing that makes me worry about the connection with my dad. I think he hates me for being an Adept.
Especially one with the Septima that killed him." Naomi elucidated.
Aelita shook her head.
"I don't think he's mad at you, or even disappointed." Aelita doubted.
"To be honest, nobody, not even my mom knows why he hates Adepts. Only that he does. I think he should try work as a geneologist to try and delete the Adept gene from people in a wide spread available solution." Naomi commented.
"You would think the Sumeragi would've found a solution and ended it already." Aelita believed.
"Yeah, if they were a good company they'd leave it alone and lock up people who used their Septimas for evil. But for the most part they're good, they have an epic automated shipping place. I saw it on a tour at 5 years old an I'm still fascinated by it. But otherwise, that company's corrupt to its core Aelita. They hire Adepts, make clones of people, experiment on them, even torture them. They take people off the streets, anywhere, to get people they think might be capable of harboring a Septima. Most of the their test subjects die during experimentation." Naomi rambled.
Aelita could only sit there in silence. She knew Naomi was telling the truth. Not only since she was an ex Sumeragi member, their original Muse. But Aelita could see the trauma in her eyes, seeing many of her friends come and go.
Knowing what she's seen was worse than any overdramatized Hollywood sci-fi horror flick. Anybody else would think Naomi escaped a psych ward or mental hospital. Though there was no ability to disprove anything. Since Aelita saw (mostly) the same things Naomi saw, there was no denying or refuting her statements.
Neither of them knew Anthea was listening in. She told Franz what she heard.
"The poor girl, trying to hide what she's been through to fit in and appear normal." Franz muttered.
After the dishes were done, Naomi and Aelita went to her room, changed into pajamas before deciding to play some games. It was decided the two would do some hide and seek. So when it was Aelita's turn to find Naomi, the older girl was nowhere to be found. However, when she turned around, Aelita was startled by Naomi holding Lola with both hands cupped together to make sure the sphere shaped robot didn't fall.
It appeared Copen had terrible timing since as soon as Naomi left he entered the room.
"Hey sis, can I borrow Lola?" Copen asked nobody in particular.
Naomi, Lola and Aelita were too busy laughing and having fun that even if he did call, Naomi probably -if not definitely- wouldn't care. It was Lola's turn to find Naomi and Aelita. Since she could hover she may have had an advantage. Though opening doors wasn't possible for her.
So Naomi and Aelita hid behind the curtains. Since they were floor length, no toes or feet could be seen. Aelita couldn't really be seen since the curtains were pink but Naomi's red pajamas and white hair made an easier outline to identify.
"Gotcha!" Lola laughed as she zoomed behind the curtain.
"Aaaah! Abort abort! We've been spotted! Run away!" Naomi shrieked as she pulled the left curtain, completely blowing Aelita's cover.
"That's not fair!" Aelita gigled as the two ran from Lola.
"Does anyone want to hear a bedtime story?" Anthea chimed from the dooryway with a book in hand.
Naomi knew Lola never heard one. Aelita used to be read those every night. Naomi's mother read some books but mostly made her own. Telling of a little girl with special powers adored and loved by all. It was then taht Naomi realized the little girl in her mothers stories was her. Sadly, she believed, she knew, that she would never obtain the same happy ending as the girl. Her brother had a chance at happiness if he'd stop committing Adept genocide. He'd have an even better shot if he didn't tell his mother that Naomi had been gone since 1:15 that afternoon.
"I asked Nori if she knew where she was but she didn't know anything about her leaving." Copen notified.
"Maybe it would be best to check here before we look anywhere else. She may just be hiding somehwere." Naomi's mother assured.
Copen decided to text Naomi while the search was occuring. The response from Naomi was an angry grunt as she heard the alarm blaring sound she used for text notifications. When Naomi saw who the massage was from, her mood went from bad to worse. She texted I'm fine, now leave me alone. Her brother was the last person she wanted to talk to at that moment (even though she really didn't want to talk with anyone since she was trying to sleep). After seeing the message, Naomi's mother wasn't content with the evidence.
"She wouldn't say something like that." Naomi's mother denied.
Copen rolled his eyes. Obviously you don't know her then he mentally retorted.
Luckily, Naomi silenced her phone and experienced no further interruptions that night. During dinner, Naomi's mother was anxious and concerned for her eldest childs saftey. Dinner was barely touched by anyone that night. Naomi was able to enjoy herself.
She dreamt about the arcade in Tokyo mall with Yumi and Aelita. The pink haired girl won a unicorn theme 5 ounce slime in an equally pink tub with white holographic glitter. Naomi won some candy which the girls at at the movies while watching Pacific Rim. When the dream ended, Naomi awoke to the smell of cinnamon rolls. After yawning and stretching, Naomi told Aelita she was going to go home and grab some more appropriate clothing to go to work in.
Seeing as she "always wanted ta go ta work in PJ's but the boss wouldn't think it was such a good idea." As Naomi informed Aelita of her plan, Nori inspected Naomi's room for any signs of the female QUILL field operative. Still, no signs. Everything was the same as it was the day prior.
After teleporting home, putting on some new clothes and removing the pajamas, Naomi sat in her room thinking. It was funny to see everyone on edge like a student about to take a test. As Naomi teleported back to Aelita's house, Copen entered the room. He went to his mother, stating he saw Naomi.
His mother claimed it was a subconscious desire to see her again. Copen merely shrugged it off as her maternal instincts overriding her judgement and logical thinking.
"OMG It's nine forty five already!? Pinky why didn't ya tell me anythin!? Asimov's gonna have ma head for this!" Naomi exlaimed.
"I don't know what time you go to work." Aelita stated.
"Nine AM. Oh yeah, Moniqa told me ta take a break an' she'd call if I was needed." Naomi remembered as she and Aelita went down to breakfast.
"I forgot to ask, what kind of work do you do anyways Naomi?" Aelita asked.
"Uh, it's random jobs really. I get sent to a lot of different places. Getting sent to the factory was definitely the weirdest. I just usually do missions within the Japanese borders. The plane I was on had Sumeragi employees in first class so I was able ta hitch a plane ride. That's the only reason the plane was allowed ta fly. That was my first time on a plane. Remind me to make sure that's the first and last time I ever do that. I'm never getting on a tin can with wings ever again." Naomi answered as her hands gripped the seat of the chair while Aelita laughed.
"Bad turbulence?" Aelita wondered as she noticed Naomi's seat clenching fear.
"I was on a plane, with an unknown Sumeragi employee, with no means of escape. There was lightning everywhere and it's my job to protect humans. I couldn't get a recharge for jitt. There was a little kid that wouldn't stop pulling my hair too. I'm not supposed to hit humans but I thought about it for a second." Naomi elucidated.
Anthea put the cinnamon rolls with some glassses of milk.
"Woah! There's so much cinnamon!" Naomi squealed.
"I put some in the dough. Plus, I put more cinnamon paste than the recipe calls for, I quintuple it so I can put some in the icing too." Anthea smiled.
After taking a bite, Naomi felt like she was in a state of pure bliss, as if here troubles were all in her head.
"I think I've got a new addiction. I'm more hooked on this than Zeno is on video games." Naomi smiled.
Naomi happily consumed 3 cinnamon rolls and drank all of her milk.
"I can't thank you enough for allowing me to stay for the night. Aelita's free to spend somet ime at my place if it's alright with you and she wants to." Naomi thanked.
Naomi walked with Aeltia to Kadic. After spending time talking with the others, Naomi went home, got into her pajamas again and went back to bed.