Diena collected thetakeout from the front door, and she listened to Ithal laugh in the living room.“This was the best day ever!”
Diena smiled.“It is good to hear it.”
She returned with the best takeout collection she had been able to think of.Ithal sighed.“Too bad Vaken had to go home.”
“I know, bud, but you will see him during your time off or back at school.”
She smiled and set the packets down on the table.She had to remain in a more upright chair and couldn’t join the floor picnic.
Alody smiled.“So what made you set up the play centre?”
“I wish I could have experimented with my activation instead of hiding it.I think I could have been more confident with it.”
Ithal frowned.“Didn’t Mom show you how to answer need?”
“Ithal, Mom and I were separated when I was born.I was tank-born, lab-raised, and trained in a creche.I learned about her in my files and was watched constantly for my activation to happen, but I didn’t even show a flicker of healing.”
“But we all have healing.”
Diena smiled.“I know.My need to hide took over from my need to help.The injured they showed me weren’t actually injured, and we were next to a medical station.There was no need.It wasn’t necessary.”
Ithal nodded with wide eyes and started to load a plate.“Oh.How did you figure it out?”
“I was walking to work, and there was a car accident, and I stabilized one of the injured until first responders could arrive.”
Alody blinked.“You have enough control just to stabilize?”
“Yeah.I had enough time to think about how to keep things moving.”
Ithal got up with his plate and brought it to Diena.“Because you can’t have a floor picnic.”
“I will be able to soon, but thank you, Ithal.Best brother ever.”She got some hot sauce for the spring rolls and went to town on her food.She glanced, and Alody was doing the same.
Ithal started expounding on the fun things he had done.The climbing wall that had catch fields.The running track that was covered and gave them speed readouts.Boxing class with an ex-peacekeeper was fun, and working out with the calibrated projection units was amazing.
Diena smiled.She got a message on her com and looked at one of her business partners.“Hey, Keska.How are you doing?”
“Great.I hear you spent the day at the park.”
“Yup.My brother had a day off and needed to let off some steam.”
A little face tilted into the view.“Hey, Kessie.”
“Miss Diena!You have a brother?How old is he?”
“Ithal is eight.”
Ithal looked up.She smiled at him.
“Is he there?Can we go to the playpark together?”
Diena grinned.“I am not sure.Twice in one week might be a little much.”
Ithal was frantically shaking his head.“No.I am okay.I can do it.”
Diena huffed a little as a strong contraction wrapped around her.
Keska blinked.“Oh, hell.Are you all right?”
