Chapter 14: Notice of Status
CW: talk of suidide (nothing happens) and events of the past and deadnaming
The Scorpiris shuddered as she exited hyperspace, causing Tori to glance around her reading nook. She wasn’t alone; she rarely was… Willow was curled up between her legs, sleeping and purring softly. The screens around the room showed a stationary starfield until they changed to show Saturn. The Scorpiris was back in the solar system, this meant that they were only a few days away from meeting up with Marissa and Allison. Tori realized that she still needed to call them because she had not done so yet. Tori switched apps on her datapad and sent a message to Lilium.
IntrepidPenguin: Miss, can you come get Willow, Please? I want to call Marissa and Allison before we get to Mars…
A few seconds went by before she got a response.
BrainFlower: Sure. Are you in your reading nook still, and if so, May I enter?
IntrepidPenguin: Yes, and you may enter.
The door slid open a few moments later and Lilium quietly entered. She cooed quietly as to not wake the sleeping Willow. “You two are so cute and I am beginning to think that she is smitten with you…” Tori blushed and looked up at Lilium.
“This…” She paused, glancing at the sleeping figure that was basically curled up in her lap. “There is nothing wrong with the fact that the four of us florets are in love with each other, is there?” She watched as Lilium rearranged herself to make her self more comfortable in the somewhat tiny room.
“The only way there is anything wrong with the four of you loving each other is if the four of you decide that there is something wrong with it.” Lilium reached out and stroked both Willow’s head and Tori’s heads with vines. “Polyamory has a long history in Terran culture, regardless of what those that would be in power would tell you. Polyamory simply is what happens when you let yourself love others in the way that you do. The love you have for Emma is different than the love you have for Willow and that love is different than the love you have for Rachel, which is different than the love that you have for Lavandula and I. You are simply expressing your love in different ways for different people at different times.”
“My parents always said that people that were like that were an abomination…” Tori let the thought trail off. “Then again, they called me the same thing and tried to take over my life…” She smiled at the Affini that was now one of her owners. “My life has never been better… I no longer feel like I want to end it, and I had thought about it more than once when we were on Proxmia 20, to say nothing of the stuff that was in my files that made Lavandula seek me out. Had I known what it was really like and not what the rebels said… I’d have been here sooner, but I doubt I’d be with Mistress…”
“Do you want to know something, little one?” Lilium asked, a chuckle hiding in her voice.
“Hmm?” Tori said, tipping her head.
“Lavi had a Notice of Intent filed on you about five Terran minutes after she had read your file… That was probably four and a half years ago.” Lilium said. “Her biggest concern was that we wouldn’t find you in time. I was with her as she read your file; I watched her wilt as she read it. She knew that you needed love and care and she wanted to be the one that gave that to you.”
”She…” Tori’s voice sounded surprised. “She did?”
“She did…” Lilium confirmed. “It would not have mattered if a different vessel found you or if you had walked into a domestication center on your own seeking domestication; you would have ended up with Lavi.” She gave Tori a few pats. “Let me get this sleeping catgirl out of your lap so you can call your friends.”
“Thank you…” Tori said, smiling up at the much taller Affini. “Thank you for everything.”
“It’s our pleasure, little one.” Lilium said, sliding vines around Willow’s sleeping form and gently lifting her off the very comfortable couch in the reading nook. “Please message if you need anything else…”
“Yes, Ma’am." Tori said, and watched as Lilium exited the reading nook. If Tori hadn’t watched her go, she would have not believed that the Affini had been in the room. How can a being that is so large be so quiet as they move… she wondered before picking up her pad and looking to see if Marissa and Allison were online. They both were. Tori sent them a message.
IntrepidPenguin: Are you two available for a call really quick? Some stuff has changed and I want to bring you up to speed before we get to Mars and the docking with the Sphenophyllia
MurkyMartian: yeah, were here, do you want to give us 5?
IntrepidPenguin: Sounds good. I’ll call then.
Tori saved her progress in her book and glanced around her reading nook. She’d never done a video call from in here, but suspected that it would look just fine. She glanced down at her body and thought that her dress looked good. It wasn’t a companion dress, per se, but it was white and covered with lavender colored little flowers. The bodice was snug because it had a corset design and the skirt was comprised of layers of white and purple tulle that flared out like a tulip right before it blooms. She had sent the dress to the compiler that morning and it would go into the decompiler before she went to bed. Her collection of saved clothes on her datapad was massive, but there were only a few things that weren’t dresses. Her closets in the both the reading nook and the bedroom were both fairly empty. Her datapad beeped and she glanced at it, being brought back into reality.
MurkyMartian: we are ready…
IntrepidPenguin: Ok, calling now.
Tori tapped a few things on her datapad and the far wall of the reading nook turned into a video display for the call. A few seconds later, a video feed showed Marissa and Allison.
“Hi!” They said in unison, and then squinted at the image of Tori on their side “Where are you?” Marissa asked.
Tori looked around the room. “My reading nook…” She chuckled. “So that’s something I wanted to talk to you about. Lavandula and Lilium decided that we should all live in the same Hab, so here we are.”
“We know who Lavandula is, who is Lilium?” Allison questioned.
“And who is ‘we all’?” Marissa asked.
“Lilium is my xenovetanirypsychriatist, and we all would be the six of us, the two Affini, and Rachel, Willow, me and Emma. Um, the four of us are pinnates.” Tori shrugged it made sense to her.
“So are you like, co owned or something then?” Marissa asked “and what does that mean for that notice thing that Lavandula filed on us? We had someone from the XBWC stop in and check on us the other day. Said we were doing alright; but they didn’t mention the notice thing.”
“I have to listen to Lilium, but at the moment my owner is still soley Lavendula.” Tori took a breath. “I know about the checkup, Mistress got an update from the Affini that checked on you. I don’t know if or when they would even mention the notice to you.” Tori bit her lower lip. “I did learn that Mistress put in a notice on me about five minutes after she read my file. That notice was on file for over four years. I wouldn’t have mattered if a different vessel had found me or if I had walked into a domestication center, I would have ended up with Mistress.” Tori sighed; it was nice knowing that she would have been taken care of despite any outcome.
“She had filed a notice for you four years before she found you?” Marissa asked, shock evident in her voice.
“Yeah…” Tori shrugged. “Then again, had I not bought the rebel propaganda, I would have probably been here sooner, but I’d have never met Emma.” She smiled. “Things have a way of working out. So we moved from the pair of habs that we were in to a much larger hab. This one has four reading nooks, plus a bedroom that can sleep like eight, plus offices for Mistress and Miss Octal, and their shared bedroom, the common area and the kitchen. And were still onboard a ship…”
“What did you mean when you said that at the moment your sole owner is Lavandula?” Allison asked.
“Mistress and Lilium have been talking about getting married…” Tori smiled. “I think they just have to file a bit of paperwork and they become our joint owners.”
“Have you noticed how much the Compact likes their paperwork?” Allison said. “It’s not natural to like paperwork as much as the Affini do.”
“And it’s not even digital paperwork…” Marissa said, her eyes rolling. “It’s actual paper…”
“Well, I guess when you can use a compiler and just create what you want when you want it, things like deforestation are a thing of the past.” Tori chuckled. “I manly wanted to let you know the living situation changed a bit, and bring you up to speed on what to expect when you come aboard. I really think you will like Rachel and Willow…”
“The other two florets you are living with?” Marissa asked.
“Yep…” Tori replied as her datapad dinged. She glanced at it. “Looks like dinner is done. I will see you two in a few days.”
“Sounds good.” Marissa said. “It’s been so long and I can’t wait to see you again. I also want to meet the rest of your…” her voice trailed off. “Habhold?”
Tori started chuckling. “I guess that works. I can’t wait to see you two again either. Bye for now!” Marissa and Allison waved as the call disconnected and the outside wall was replaced with a view of Saturn again, this time, Titan was coming around into view. Tori sat there for a few moments before getting up and leaving her reading nook. As she exited the view screens all shut off, leaving only the lamp on the desk on for just a little bit of light. So far, today had been a good day.
“Mistress,” Tori said quietly. “Lilium told me about the fact that you had filed a notice of intent for me some four years before you located me.” She paused and glanced at her owner, reaching up to wipe a tear away, finding a vine already working on it. “I just want to say thank you; thank you for deciding that I was worthy of saving after you had read my file.”
“Every sophont is worth saving, little one.” Lavandula reached up and stroked Tori’s hair. “Even you, on your worst day and at the bottom of whatever pit of despair you find yourself in; you are worth saving. After all, that is why we, the Affini, exist.” Tori smiled and leaned into her owner.
“What are we having for dinner?” Tori asked, sniffing the air. Something smelled good, but she couldn’t place the smell. “It smells good.”
“It is something called ‘Fettuccini Alfredo’ and is a dish often served with either chicken or shrimp, sometimes steak, and we have a little of all three. I’m told that it hails from a region of Terra that was once called Italy.”
Tori felt her mouth start to water. This had been one of her favorite dishes as she was growing up. “I can’t wait to try it.”
“Before we go eat, there is something that I want you to know…” Lavandula said, her voice trailing off. “I have had your parents located, if you wish you can inform them of your status, or I can. I can do it with or without you present and I will take care to protect you from things that I don’t want you to hear if you are present.”
“I want to be there. I want to see their faces when I’m happy and taken care of. You said you’d take care of me better than I’d ever been taken care of before and you’ve kept that promise.” Tori said, glancing up at her owner. “I trust you.”
“Ok, what do you say we call after dinner?” Lavi asked. “And do you want Lilium or anyone else there?”
“I’d like Miss Octal there, and Emma…” her voice trailed off for a second. “Can we get me a stuffed penguin? Right now, I don’t care if it comes from the compiler, but I want something to hold on to…”
“Ok on Lilium and Emma. Find a stuffie and compile it, nothing is stopping you.” Lavi ruffled Tori’s hair again. “I think it’s a cute idea.” The door to the Emma’s reading nook opened and she exited the room headed for the kitchen.
“Whatever we’re having smells good…” Emma said.
“It’s fettuccine Alfredo; and you have a choice of steak, chicken or shrimp to go in it.” Tori said, hopping off the couch; a vine slowed her decent so she didn’t hurt her knees.
“Ooohhh. It’s been…” Emma paused in thought. “A long time since I’ve had that. It was before the war, I think…”
“I’ve not had it in forever,” Willow said, coming out of her reading nook. “I’m looking forward to it.”
Rachel appeared in the doorway of the bedroom. “What are we having? It smells good.”
“Fettuccine Alfredo” the other three florets said at the same time, making their way into the kitchen. They sat in their customary spots as Lavandula and Lilium both scooped noodles and sauce into bowls.
“What do you girls want for the meat?” Lavandula asked.
“Chicken and steak.” Tori said; her mouth had been watering for a little while.
“Chicken.” Came Emma’s voice.
“Chicken and shrimp,” Willow said. Tori and Emma giggled.
“Leave it to the catgirl to want bird and fish.” Rachel giggled, causing everyone else to giggle as well. “May I have chicken and shrimp as well, please?”
Vines flew around the kitchen and a few moments later, bowls of steaming fettuccine Alfredo sat in front of the four florets. The four of them didn’t have silverware, but they weren’t going to need it; the owners would be feeding the pets.
“Willow and Rachel,” Lilium said, starting to feed both of the girls. “After dinner, can the two of you retire to either your reading nooks or the bedroom, please? We are going to be making a call to Tori’s parents and we don’t know how that is going to go. You will be able to come out after the call. Maybe we could have a movie night afterward.”
“If Tori is feeling up to it, I like that idea.” Lavandula said, scooping some of the pasta and meat up so she could feed it to Tori and Emma. “Knowing what I know about her past, this could be an ok thing, or this could go badly, but by the Everbloom, if they cause any more damage to my little flower…” she paused steadying the two vines that were moving food toward Tori and Emma’s mouths. “I will have them domesticated faster than they can say my name.” Tori and Emma glanced at each other, causing the forks with the food to strike their cheeks instead of going into their mouths. Lavandula made an approximation of blinking and then wiped the sauce from the cheeks of the two girls. “Silly girls…” The vines holding the forks placed their payloads into the girls mouths.
“You…” Tori started, still chewing her food. She swallowed after a vine touched her throat.
“Shouldn’t talk with your mouth full, sweetie.” Lavandula admonished.
“Sorry, Mistress…” Tori said, feeling the blush rising on her cheeks. “But you can do that? Just have them domesticated?
“Yes,” Lavandula said. “It’s not something that I want to do, but if it is necessary, I will have it done.” A vine scooted toward Tori’s mouth with another forkful of food, which Tori opened her mouth for; a tap on her cheek instructed her to chew. “You know, it’s amazing how quickly you adapted to commands by vine…”
Tori blushed and swallowed the food that was in her mouth. “I mean it’s not like the commands via vine are hard to understand…” she chuckled quietly. “Um, Mistress, were you able to locate my sister, Tiffany?”
“Not yet, but I’m still looking.” Lavandula said, picking up a cup and holding it so Tori could take a drink. “I’ll let you know when I find her.” Tori nodded. Tiffany had always been the favorite; and she got everything she wanted, exactly how she wanted it. Part of Tori hoped that she had been domesticated and that she didn’t get a choice in the matter.
“Penny for your thoughts?” Emma asked, her hand gently rubbing Tori’s.
“I’m just thinking about my sister, kind of hoping the spoiled brat got domesticated…” Tori whispered.
“That’s something I didn’t think about…” Lavandula said, brining another forkful of food to their mouths. “I’ll have to try that route.”
Tori and Emma sat between Lavandula and Lilium, both having been placed there by the two Affini. Their hands joined and a vine rested in Tori’s free hand.
“Are you ready?” Lavandula asked. Tori nodded as Emma gave her hand a squeeze. “My vine in your hand is an out for you. If you want to end the call for any reason, just squeeze my vine. If you wish me to simply remove you and Emma to one of your reading nooks, squeeze twice, if you want to speak, tap my vine.” Tori felt a vine snake around her and saw it appear on Emma’s left. “Emma, same thing.” Tori and Emma felt more vines snake around them from behind. This set belonged to Lilium, who also intertwined vines with Lavandula. It seemed that everyone was set and the call could happen. Lavandula pulled her datapad out and set it in her lap, Tori’s was placed in her lap as well “Just in case you want to have me say something on your behalf…” Lavandula said quietly. “Ok, here we go…”
The viewscreen appeared and just said ‘dialing’ for a second as the video call connected half way across the solar system. As far as Tori knew, her parents still lived on Terra and she presumed they were still there. The screen changed to just show an empty couch. It was the same one that had been in the house when Tori and her sister Tiffany had grown up. “Yes?” A gruff male voice said off camera. Tori tensed up a bit, and vines started to gently rub her back. “Can I help you, Xeno…” Well, he can see the screen… Tori thought.
“Good afternoon, I am Lavandula Octal, Fourth Bloom, she/her pronouns, I am with Lilium Octal, Eighteenth Bloom, also she/her pronouns.” Lavandula introduced herself and Lilium. “We are joined by Victoria and Emma Octal, Third and Forth Florets Pinnate, both of whom use she/her pronouns” there was some rustling off camera and then a heavy set man in his late fifties entered the frame from the right, on the other side a woman entered the frame also looking like she was in her late fifties. The pair of them sat on opposite ends of the couch. There was no intimacy between the two of them; they looked like they were roommates, not spouses. They just looked nonplussed. “Are you,” she consulted her datapad. “Walter and Marie Peterson?”
“We are…” Walter said, “What’s this about, Xeno?”
“I’m calling to inform you of your daughter’s status.” Lavandula said, her voice calming. Tori felt a warmth go through her as her implant gave a small dose of a Class E to combat the anxiety that she felt.
“We only have one daughter, and she’s here with us…” Walter said, a girl maybe twenty one years of age walked into the frame and sat between the adults on the couch. No one had realized who Tori was due to the effects of the Class G xenodrugs she was on. Have I really changed that much?
“The records we received from the Accord stated that you had another child, who enlisted in the Terran Cosmic Navy and was assigned to the Office of Cosmic Naval Intelligence. Looks like her name was…” Lavandula made a show of consulting her datapad, but Tori could see that it was actually sitting on the message screen in case she sent a message. “Victoria Peters…”
“That’s not what his name was…” Marie Peters said speaking for the first time. “His name was Xavier and we’ve not heard from him in 6 years, ever since he ran off and enlisted when we were trying to help him.” Tori tapped Lavandula’s vine, which resulted in a very slight shake of her head indicating that she didn’t think that Tori should speak right this second. “He probably got killed during the conflict…” Tori squeezed Emma’s hand, who squeezed back, the gesture indicating that she was there and would remain there.
“The records we obtained from the TCN and OCNI indicate that you had a daughter that enlisted, not a son.” Lavandula said. “Victoria Octal, Third Floret is your daughter. She was captured from an OCNI monitoring outpost called Proxima 20 along with nine of her compatriots.”
“That’s not our son—” Walter said before being cut off by Lavandula.
“That’s because this is your daughter,” she said, stroking Tori’s mid back length hair. “You will address her correctly using her name and the correct pronouns. Do. I. Make. Myself. Clear.” Lavandula’s voice was harsh and it made Tori want to hide behind the couch and the voice wasn’t even directed at her. “This call is to inform you that your daughter has been domesticated as per sections 57, 61, and 107.a of the Human Domestication Treaty.”
“Good, you can keep the person that has decided to go against—” Tori could still see her mother’s lips moving, but she couldn’t hear anything. Tori typed out a message on her datapad.
IntrepidPenguin: ummmmm. I can’t hear anything…
IntellegenceLavender: Your implant has cut your hearing off. I don’t want you to be able to hear the vile things that she is saying about you, my precious little flower.
BrainFlower: do you care if I interject?
IntellegenceLavender: go ahead
“For the record,” Lilium started. Tori being able to hear Lilium startled her and caused her to jump. “There have been multiple studies showing that affirming a sophont’s name and gender identity leads to them having a happier life overall.” She paused, and glanced at her own datapad; Tori could see that her file was open on the datapad. “It seems based on the data that the OTNA gathered that you were instrumental in leading to her attempt on her life. This is unacceptable…”
“And what are you going to do about it?” Walter said, leering at the two Affini that were on the screen. “I’m not sure where you are, but I know you’re not where we are…”
“Mr. Peterson,” Lilium made the same motion as if she were taking a breath. “We may not be where you are, but we are also everywhere. We do not take kindly toward harm coming to any sophont, regardless of reason, and the fact that you two basically committed the highest crime of all with your lack of empathy toward your own child will be dealt with accordingly.”
IntelligenceLavander: Tori, what would you like to have happen?
“Whatever…” Walter said, still leering at the screen. “Should have figured that the —“
“ENOUGH.” Lavandula said loudly. “I’d give you a Class E and a Class W right this second if I could get my vines on you…” Almost as if to emphasize the point of how badly Lavandula wanted to get her vines on the people on the screen, most of Lavandula’s vines moved wildly. Walter stopped talking and just glared at them through the screen.
IntrepedPenguin: I’m normally not vindictive, but I want to see them suffer the way they made me suffer. I don’t think that’s something you would do though; I’d like to see the three of them domesticated and broken. They will make for some fine florets once they are broken. But I don’t ever want to see them again, I don’t want to hear from them, I don’t want to know how they are doing. You can keep track of them if you want, but I don’t want to know about it.
“Tori, do you have anything you’d like to say?” Lavandula asked. A vine gently rubbed the back of her neck just below her collar. She knew it was visible because every outfit that she wore, her collar was visible. She was a floret and she was proud to be a floret.
”Yes, I actually do,” Tori paused and looked at Lavandula. “May I use words that I’m generally not allowed to use, Mistress?”
“You may, Petal.” Lavandula said.
“Mistress and petal?” Walter scoffed. “Yeah, ok, whatever…”
“All I ever wanted from you was love and acceptance,” Tori said, looking directly into the camera. She knew that her blue eyes would be piercing and her look was not one that they would have seen in a while. “But instead, all I got was ridicule and no acceptance.” Tori took a breath and Walter seized the opportunity.
“Why would we accept a —“ he started, but he was cut off by Tori speaking again.
“You should accept it because I’m your mother fucking daughter!” Tori shouted. “But no, you don’t seem to even consider the fact that someone can be different. I never was Xavier. He’s gone. I only fucking pretended to be a boy because that was what you and society expected from me. Well guess what, I’m not a fucking boy, I’m a woman, not that you would understand that. I want you completely out of my life and I don’t ever want to talk to you again.”
“Xavier,” Marie started; Tori cut her off.
“That’s not my name, Marie…” Tori said, her voice firm. “How would you like it if I called you, I don’t know, Robert? Would you like that Robert? My name has not been that in six years. I learned today that as soon as Mistress read my file she had filed a Notice of Intent on me. She was concerned that she wasn’t going to find me before I did something really stupid. She wanted me in her life. Something that I can’t imagine you wanted. I bet that you are relieved that you never have to worry about me again, that I’m now someone else’s problem; isn't that right, Robert…” She emphasized the name.
“You will not talk to your mother like that…” Walter said, his voice sounding fierce. “Apologize to your mother.”
To her right, Lavandula tensed like she was going to say something, but Tori just tapped her vine indicating that she was going to speak. “No…” Tori said. “I won’t apologize. You’ve never apologized in all the times that you have used the incorrect name or pronouns with me, even after you were corrected.” Tori took a breath. “I don’t even consider you my parents. You did nothing to help prepare me for the world; you probably couldn’t care less if I’m in it. I hope you get what’s coming for you. Cause I’ve learned that you can run, but you can’t hide. Your past will catch up to you eventually. I kind of hope I’m nearby when it happens. I’m done talking to people that don’t seem to care one star about anyone else.” Tori collapsed back into the vines behind her and willed her self not to cry. Tori squeezed Emma’s hand.
IntellegenceLavander: Want me to tell them what’s coming their way?
IntrepidPenguin: No…. Let it be a surprise.
BrainFlower: I have the paperwork competed, I just sent it to your pad. I’ve signed it and It just needs your signature.
IntellegenceLavander: Ok, Send them to me. @IntrepidPenguin, are you sure about this?
IntrepidPenguin: Yes, Mistress.
“You think we wanted this to happen to you?” Walter said. “We only wanted what was best and most beneficial for you. We were going to send you to the best college we could and what was your response? You pulled this…” His voice trailed off as a knock on the door sounded in the distance. “Gender stuff…” The knock on the door sounded again, this time more insisisistent. …
“I would suggest you go answer the door, Mr. Peterson,” Lavandula said. Tori glanced down at Lavandula’s screen to see that she was now in a three way conversation with at least two others, the other two appeared to be on Terra. “If you don’t answer the door, the Affini that are at the door will break it down.” The look that Walter gave caused Tori to cower, She had seen that look too many times in her life. The look that Lavandula gave back must have been more fierce as Walter stood and walked out of view of the camera. There was the sound of a scuffle at the front door and then vines shot across the room, pinning Marie and Tiffany down.
“Ow, what the…” Walter’s voice could be heard saying.
“Who are you?” Marie asked her hand joined Tiffany’s.
“Relax, little ones,” a sing song voice in the background said. “We will explain everything to you, we just need you to remain calm.”
Walter was brought back into the field of the camera and placed on the couch by some vines. “Will someone tell me what is happening?!?” Tori knew exactly what was happening. Two vines poked Marie and Tiffany, presumably with either Class E or Class D Xenodrugs.
“Ow!” Tiffany shouted, she didn’t see the vine that got her, just the pinprick of the injector. “The fuck was that…”
“Language, little one…” one of the two Affini in the room with the rest of Tori’s family said.
“Why the fuck should I listen to you in my own home,” Walter asked.
“Because this is not your home any more. As of this moment under sections 57, 61, and 293.i of the Human Domestication Treaty, you have been selected for immediate domestication and possible implantation as soon as your new owners are ready to accept you.” One of the Affini off the screen said.
“Don’t break them…” Lavandula instructed. “Transfer them to the Sphenophyllia, I’d like to speak to them before we send them off.”
“Like hell am I going to be domesticated.” Tiffany shouted; Another vine snaked toward her and injected her. The only noises that came out of Tiffany’s mouth was a babbling sound similar to that which a baby makes. Marie looked horrified and like she had lost all of her fight. Walter, however, was watching what had just happened to his daughter. : “I am a citizen of the Terran Accord…” Walter said, his voice showing how nervous he was for the first time. “I am a former member of the Terran Cosmic Navy, I am an upstanding citizen and you can’t do this.”
“Unfortunately Walter,” Lavandula said, vines gently stroking Tori’s back. She was so full of Class E’s that she wasn’t sure that she’d be able to walk. “I just pulled up your service record. I’m not sure how you managed to stay free for so long; just like your daughter, your past is going to finally catch up with you.”
“What is she talking about, Walter?” Marie said. “And what’s the Sphenophyllia?”
“I don’t know, Marie.” Walter said, he was loosing his steam and it was starting to show. “The Sphenophyllia is their command ship that is located above Mars…” He was still connected to what was left of the intelligence community on Terra
“I’ll make sure to upload my notes to the case, Pricilla,” Lavandula said, “I’m going to spare my little ones what comes next. Please keep me updated as to what you find and get them to the vet, I want them checked out…. Records show that they’ve not been yet.” On the screen Walter started to stand and then Tori felt a prick in her arm and then darkness over took her.
Tori awoke in Lavandula’s vines. They were still in the common area, and Emma was sitting there, her tears being dried by Lilium.
“Is that how it was for us?” Emma’s voice said. Tori just looked up into her Mistress’s eyes.
“No,” Lilium said. “You all had been hit with an aerosolized Class Z to knock you all out. You didn’t even have a chance to fight, but then again, Proxmia 20 was so close to just falling apart that we didn’t have much choice.”
“I feel like I fell asleep, what happened?” Tori glanced toward the view screen which had vanished as it was no longer needed.
“Things got…” Lavandula started, “Very rough and I didn’t want you to have to see it.” Tori gave the cutest little stretch. “Your parents and sister are in custody and are going to get the help they need. That is the last update I will give you on them, per your request.”
“Do we still want to watch a movie?” Emma asked. “I could use something happier to think about.”
“Sure, let me call Rachel and Willow out.” Calling them out happened without datapads or audible sounds. The wonders of the Hauristic Implant… a few moments later, they four of them on the couch were joined by thier fellow Pinnates.
“How’d the call go?” Willow asked, curling up next to Tori on the couch.
“Um…” Tori said, unsure of how much she should say.
“It’s best if we don’t talk about it, little one.” Lilium said, causing Willow to smile. “Just give love and support to Tori right now.”
“That, I can do…” Willow said, practically curling up in Tori’s lap and purring.