Echoes of Family Lost

by Clayton Barnett

  Their assumption was wrong.

  Fausta sagged back into her chair. She stared at Lily with her crystalline eyes.

  “I’ve got to tell my family!”

  She made to wipe at her eyes, stopped. She barked, “Where’s the world going?!”

  There was a tap at the door. The aide, Hanson, came back in and spoke to Wagner. The Colonel sighed.

  “Dinner is ready, if anyone gives a damn.”

  Silence hung about the table. Carell cleared his throat.

  “How about,” he began, “we table all this – if you’ll forgive the pun – until after dinner? I’d hate to upset anyone’s digestion.”

  After a pause, Wagner waved at Hanson, who in turn held the door for the cooks to bring food in. In an effort to support her husband’s proposal, Anna spoke up.

  “Fausta? For our toast, you proposed family; and, you’ve mentioned yours a few times. Barring, ah, the current topic, may I ask to know a little more?”

  “Certainly.” She said, while waving away a plate with chicken and vegetables. “I have three brothers: Thaad, Shandor, and Qin. I have three sisters: Ai, Dorina, and Ninon. There is also my niece, Henge.” She smiled without showing her teeth. “It was good to no longer be the youngest.”

  “And all you were, forgive me if I inadvertently say something offensive, made by…?” Anna continued. Lily tried to not smile at the ground she herself covered months ago.

  “Our father is Professor Shiotsuki of the Tohsaka Corporation, in Hamamatsu, Japan. However,” she said, raising a finger into the air, “that is not true of my niece. Thaad is her father.”

  “Hah!” Carell laughed. “Who’s her mother?”

  Fausta dropped her finger so it pointed at Lily. “Her.”

  Lily froze, then batted at Fausta’s fingertip just touching her ear. She looked towards Callie, her face a mess of amazement.

  “Lily! You, I mean… with one of them…?” Callie started giggling. “Are you married, too?”

  Dammit, Fausta! “No! No, no, no! It’s not like that! There was my Path, and Thaad was doing something with dirt… something about ‘co-creation’…” She dropped her flatware and held her head. “I don’t know! Ai did call Henge my step-daughter, but I thought she was just kidding!” Everyone, except the Colonel, was laughing now.

  “How about that, Gary?” Leslie said. “You’ve a cousin! Hen-geh was her name?”

  The little boy looked to Fausta. “May I see my cousin?” Lily’s breath caught as they were headed back to that subject….

  “Actually,” Fausta said, “if I can borrow a laptop or tablet…?”

  “Here, ma’am.” Hanson pulled a tablet out of his briefcase.

  “Thank you.” She powered it up and stared at it for just a moment. She passed it to Lily. Oh: a still from when Ai introduced everyone on that large screen in Austin. She handed it on to Callie, with her family looking over her shoulder. Across the table, it looked as if Anna was preventing her husband from coming around, too.

  “The little girl is Henge?” Gary asked, getting the pronunciation perfect. Lily nodded. “My cousin. That’s nice.”

  “Aren’t you missing three?” Leslie asked. Lily leaned over and pointed at the towers.

  “My apologies.” Fausta said. “Shandor, Qin, and Ninon have never taken on a human appearance. It would seem the Fourth Law means nothing to them.”

  The Hartmann’s handed the tablet on to Wagner.

  “From the way you all have arrayed yourselves, this boy in the center is your leader?” He asked.

  A slight jaw-drop. “Thaad is the eldest, certainly. We love and respect him. But I would not go so far as to call him our leader.”

  “And what’s that Fourth Law you just mentioned?” He passed the tablet to the Carell’s.

  “Are you familiar with an author named Isaac Asimov?” Fausta asked.

  “You have got to be kidding me!” Carell yelled, cutting in. “You people were fashioned after a seventy year-old story?”

  Fausta tilted her head slightly. “Many things went into our creation. Our Father cares for us, and wanted us safe.” Hanson was speaking softly to the Colonel, who nodded.

  “I see,” he said. “So, what’s this Fourth?”

  “’A robot must do its best to learn to love human beings,’” Lily said. She felt Fausta pat her head.

  “Exactly. It was, in fact, Lily’s and Callie’s father that brought it to the attention of Shiotsuki-sama.”

  “Fausta,” Wagner almost rumbled, “that’s quite the coincidence you’re asking us to swallow.”

  “There are no such things as coincidences.” She replied easily. “Your minds are too small and slow to know that.”

  Her deadpan delivery had both Carell and Orloff chuckling to themselves.

  “If we were in my home,” Fausta went on, “I’m sure my sister Ai could help Bridge you to see that.”

  “In your home?” Callie asked, pointing across the table at the tablet. “You mean, there? Like, cyberspace or something?”

  “That,” Fausta said with a nod across the table, “is just something Thaad made; at Ai’s instigation. It is…” She trailed off, shrugged. “Can you help, Lily?”

  Callie grabbed at Lily’s right arm. “You’ve been there?”

  “Sure. It was a little, ah, rough in the beginning. But it’s much nicer now. Hey, Carell, do you see that palm tree and some greenery there at the right?” He looked again and nodded.

  “They call that my Path. It’s…really confusing. I wish Thaad could be here to tell you.” She brightened. “That’s right! He’s not the only one to make a place! Henge can do it, too. She’s this wonderful beach that she and Susie play on!”

  “Susie?” Callie asked.

  “One of my kids.”

  “For an unmarried woman,” Carell said sarcastically, “you sure sleep around a lot! Ow!” Anna slapped him. Lily thought of Erik.

  “No! One of my kids from the orphanage!”

  Carell couldn’t help himself. “You’ve managed to populate an orphanage? Oww!”

  Her ears aflame, she said, “It’s where I live and work! I take care of my kids!”

  “Ah-hem!” Wagner coughed. They fell silent.

  “I am pleased that we are able to get along,” he said. “However, there are rather important matters that are being glossed over. Now that dinner is largely over, I’ll say this: Captain Hanson will be letting everyone know the schedule for tomorrow, and, forgive me, this includes our guests, in an hour or so.” He stood.

  “Miss Fausta, I am very pleased to make your acquaintance. On behalf of our Society, we look forwards to working very closely with your family, for both of our civilizations. Miss Barrett?” He stopped for a moment and shook his head. “To wield the power of your friends in the name of finding your sister… I’ll leave the rest to John, but I confess that I’d be honored to have you on our team. Good evening, all.”

  They all stood. Only Lily’s group did not return his salute. The Colonel and his aide departed. As the door closed behind him, Leslie turned with a sly grin.

  “I’ve an idea.”

  Ten minutes later, in a small office just off the Control Room, they watched as Fausta lifted a scale over her sternum and plugged in the USB cable. Little Gary ran his hands over her.

  “Such a pretty fish you are.” Lily watched as Fausta shuddered badly.

  “Ah!” Fausta’s head dropped and came back up. She looked around.

  “Friend Lily!” She said in Ai’s voice. Ai! Lily knelt in front of her and held Fausta’s hands.

  “Is that you, Ai!?” A nod.

  “Fausta’s telling us everything; she and Dorina are working on a way to save Pavel!” Ai ran Fausta’s hand down Lily’s face. “I’ve missed you so much!”

  Tears flowing, Lily could still smile. “And I, you! Oh, please! This is my sister Callie! We did it, Ai! We did it!”

  The cable was too short for her to stand. Ai-through-Fausta op
ened both her arms. “My dear friend’s sister!” Lily switched places with a confused Callie.

  “So you… your… you were…?” Ai put her finger gently onto Callie’s lips.

  “Things are different here! My name is Ai! I love your sister very much!” She looked over Callie’s shoulder. This is your husband and son? Just like Dorina drew them!” She waved.

  Without a word, Gary pulled himself into her lap, put his arms about her, and fell asleep. Now Callie was crying. “I guess he likes you!”

  Lily watched as Ai/Fausta put her hands to her array. “Oh! No subroutine!” What did she mean by that? Ai looked to Lily.

  “We’ve an idea, but this first!” She said. Huh?

  Ai/Fausta’s face dropped all expression. Gary sat up.

  “Hey. You. Cousin.” A soft but steady voice of a little girl.

  Henge!

  She reached up and pulled out the cable. “That will surprise them. Yeah. Gary, cousin: let’s play.”

  She stood, cradling Gary in her left arm. “Oooo! I’m big!”

  “Orloff!” Lily called. “Door!” He moved in front of it. Lily had too much experience with their ‘young’ to trust them.

  Henge-in-Fausta looked around. “These are just drywall. You can’t stop me.”

  “I don’t want to stop you, dearest Henge,” Lily said. “I want to help you be older. Do you understand our problem here?”

  She sat and set Gary onto his feet. “Turn around.”

  Henge ran her hands around the back of the boy’s neck and head. “There are traces,” she muttered. She looked around.

  “You two. Leslie and Callie. You made him.” She said simply. “You’re going to have to save him, now. Oh!”

  She sniffed the air. Was that the first ever of a smile from her, Lily thought?

  “Please think of a good name for his sister.” She picked up the cord and lifted the scale. “Goodbye. For now.”

  Leslie stared at Fausta’s form, trying to take in all the schizophrenia. He shook his head and looked at Callie. “R-really?”

  “It…it’s only been a couple of weeks….” She said, hesitantly.

  “Yay!” Lily shouted. “Congratulations!”

  “Lily.” Orloff barked. She looked at him. He was pointing at Fausta.

  She jerked the cord out as she stood. She opened her arms wide and split her mouth to reveal all of her shark-like teeth.

  “This is going to be fun.” She said tonelessly. She moved to Leslie and grabbed his shoulders. “Human. I need you.”

  “Get your mitts off my man, you homewrecker,” Callie said with a smile.

  “I think,” Fausta said with a toothless smile, “that we have all gotten old enough this evening. Yes, there is still much to discuss, but let us retire and rest now.” She let go of Leslie and moved to Lily.

  “Are you staying with your family from now on or…uff.” Lily hugged her.

  “Silly Fausta! I’m not about to foist myself into their lives like that! Nor am I about to leave you! Let’s go see where they’ve put us!”

  “Not at all, Lily!” Her sister cried. “We can…” Lily shook her head.

  “It’s fine, Callie! It’s been a big day already!” Lily grinned at her. “I can’t have you keeping my niece up all night!”

  Filing out, they encountered Hanson in the front office. He gave them copies for tomorrow’s agenda. Lily was pleased that they didn’t start until 0900. Sleeping in would be nice! Back in the dorms, the Carell’s waved as they went up to the second floor. Fausta and Lily had a room a few doors from the Hartmann’s, and Orloff one next to that.

  Opening their door, Lily could see nothing in the darkness, and paused. Fausta moved around her. She heard a sound and saw her with a lit match. Fausta used that to light the oil lamp on the table.

  “It’s freezing in here!” Lily complained. Lily thought briefly of Fausta’s dragon form. “I hope there’re plenty of blankets! You sure you’re not packing a flamethrower or something else warm in that body of yours, dear friend?”

  “Kah, kah. I could build a contained fire for you if you’d like?”

  “Let’s not wear out our welcome quite that fast!” Lily said as she took her boots off. In the bedroom were her bags from the tavern. Better yet, they were sitting on a down comforter. I’ll change under that, she thought.

  Happy that she didn’t have to ask, she heard more than saw Fausta enter the bedroom. She lay down next to Lily.

  “I…I know we’ve still some problems,” Lily said quietly, “but we did so much today! Thank you, Fausta!”

  “Of course. Rest now, friend.”

  As her lids dropped, Lily mumbled, “…love you.”

  Chapter 16

  When Fausta tried to gently wake her the next morning, she was tempted to order her to leave her alone. That was until she mentioned something about ‘hot showers.’ Lily sat up.

  “But the power’s not on! Oh! Morning, Callie!” Her sister stood at her bedroom door.

  “In anticipation of making Chibi operational some of the techs ran steam lines over here. There were water tanks on the roof from when this was originally built, a couple of heat exchangers, and there you are!” She explained. “And right now is us girl’s turn! Get your stuff!”

  The hallway was cold, but at least not freezing. Lily noted that Fausta was coming along. “Need to wipe yourself down again?”

  “I’m fine. Just keeping an eye on you.”

  “You’ve quite the bodyguard!” Callie laughed.

  “Fausta,” Lily began. “I think that I’m pretty safe here…oh, hell.” She stopped when she saw her friend’s shoulders droop. “Never mind. Come on!” My death-bot with her primary-schooler mind.

  It was wonderfully steamy and warm in the shower room. There were towels just inside the door. About a half dozen other women were already there. They all have that odd tattoo, even Callie, she thought. Fausta must have wanted to clean up, after all, as she shucked her clothes. That instantly drew the attention of everyone else. Lily made introductions, then she and Callie escaped while Fausta gave an impromptu briefing of that body and her family.

  They had just put their clothes in a pile when Anna came around the corner. She’s so pretty, Lily thought.

  “Good morning, you two!” She said as she wrapped a towel about her long torso. “I pity you, Miss Barrett: no one to keep you warm last night!” Lily looked away, but even Callie was laughing.

  “What’s this?” Anna was more serious now. She bent down to look at Lily’s stomach. “This is recent; just some months ago.” She leaned back up. “Gunshot?”

  Lily nodded. Callie grabbed her and looked too. “When did… did this happen because you were looking for me?! I’m so sorry…!”

  “No, no!” Lily said, wrapping her towel around her. Stop looking at me! “This was before we left….” Anna held her peace, but Callie couldn’t.

  “Why did someone shoot you? I thought you said Texas was civilized…?”

  “Yeah, well. I kinda got stupid and got my face on the news, when Ai was there.” She stared at the ground. “Some woman that hated Dad shot me.”

  “Wait.” Callie was now utterly confused. “Dad was there? With you, in Texas?”

  Lily looked up at her. “Are you kidding? How could you not know? ExComm, the terror and killings; the Death Ship at the end?”

  She looked from Anna and back to her sister. They both shook their heads. Fausta had not been kidding about few signals in and out of Knoxville. She did not want to talk about this now.

  “It…it’s a big story.” She took Callie’s arms. “But, not now. Please?”

  She saw that was hard for her, but Callie nodded.

  “Just one question, please?” Callie asked. “Are Mom and Dad…?”

  “Mom’s with Aunt Clarie, a little north of Houston.” She looked down again. “Dad’s gone.”

  After a moment, Anna patted her shoulder. “Sorry for stirring all that up. I’ll be going. S
ee everyone later.”

  They showered in something of an uncomfortable silence. It was when they were drying off afterward that Callie spoke up. “Sis? That gunshot…can you still have kids?”

  “Oh, sure. Ai told me the damage was mostly to my stomach and large intestine; I lost a lot of blood at the time, too.” She smiled. “Everything else should be fine!”

  “Good!” She grinned at Lily. “Someday you can make Gary some, ahem, proper cousins!”

  Lily almost snapped that Henge was a perfectly proper girl, but remembered that her sister was very young about Ai’s family. She said nothing.

  “There’s another question!” Callie continued, getting dressed. “You…have anyone in your life right now?”

  “Just Fausta, Ai, and everyone else. Why?” Callie stared at her.

  “I meant a guy; like a boyfriend?”

  “No…” Lily muttered. “I’ve been really busy. There was one… but he died.”

  “Oh, little sis’!” Callie cried. “I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to hurt you!”

  “I’m fine. It was awhile ago.” They made their way back to the entrance. Fausta waited for them.

  “You’re still a virgin?” Callie asked. Lily looked away again.

  “Of course she is,” Fausta said easily. “Anyone can smell that.”

  “Fausta!” Lily cried, hands over her ears.

  Colonel Wagner was already seated, as were the Carell’s, when Lily’s party and the Hartmann’s came into the conference room. Notepads and pens had been set out.

  “Let’s begin,” Wagner said. “There are too many people asking questions about why we’re not pushing power out. I’d—”

  “Excuse me, please.” Fausta interrupted. Lily jotted ‘subtlety!’ on her notepad where Fausta could see it. Fausta pointed at Gary. “The boy must leave.” So much for subtlety.

  “What? Why?” Callie asked.

  “I shan’t say much until he is gone.” Fausta began. “Just this: anything we say in front of your son has the potential to end up with… our adversary, my brother.”

  “My son,” Leslie said angrily, “is not a spy!”