#aster murray

"So...soon we'll have a bio dad and a step-dad. Wild, right?"

"Yeah..."

Even without her psychic powers, Nova could tell something was bothering her brother.

"What's up?"

"I dunno, it's just that...part of me kind of hoped mom and dad would get together at some point. I think dad likes mom, if you know what I mean."

Nova did know. It was obvious. Sepal didn't hide it nearly as well as he thought he did.

"Yeah but, mom and AIOS have been together a long time. And he's always been here for her, for us."

"I know, and I love AIOS and all, but it's not the same, y'know? Imagine if we could all get off this rock and go out there, as a family, see where we came from! There's sooo much to see, and now we never will!"

"Well, not necessarily. And remember, dad's an exile. He can't exactly go back on his spaceship."

"I bet there are ways. Dad can't be the only one who's left all that pollination stuff behind."

"Maybe..."

One day she could make her own way into space, thought Nova. Sim Earth had a robust space program of its own, and maybe they wouldn't be catching up to Sixam anytime soon, but advancements were being made all the time. She pictured herself up there in orbit, an astronaut on her space walk....

Ugh, why was math so hard?! Aster had a different plan of reaching the stars, and he only needed a good ship and a crew to do it.

Being a space pirate sounded like the best thing ever! Maybe his dad could come along, they could be, like, a father-son team.

----------------------------------------------------

That's it for the Murrays this round! Will Sepal make good on his promise to move out? What trouble will he cause for Kate and AIOS? Will AIOS find out about him messing around inside Kate's mind? And where do the twins' loyalties really lie?

Hopefully it won't take another year to find out, lol.

Dinner was a lively event that evening, the conversation naturally focused on Kate and AIOS's surprise engagement and the wedding plans which would soon commence.

Sepal kept quiet for the most part, awaiting his opening. He, too, had made a decision.

"There is something I have to tell you as well. Not as exciting as your mother's news, of course."

"Oh?"

"Now that my visa has come through, it's time I found some employment and a place of my own."

"What? You don't have to go, dad!"

"Yeah, you're very welcome to stay as long as you want! Right, mom?"

"Your father is doing what he believes is best. For the record, I agree. You don't want him to freeze to death in that shed come winter, do you?"

"Don't you worry though, we'll see each other plenty. I'm not going far."

"You'd better not!"

If he was to stand any chance of winning Kate over before it was too late, he needed to establish himself in the community, become more independent. Perhaps a little distance wouldn't hurt either: he could meet her on his own terms, away from prying eyes.

"Hey you two - I know you're still in a sugar coma from all the cake you ate last night, but AIOS and I have some big news to share."

"Mom, you're making it sound like you're getting married or something."

"That is correct."

"Ummm -"

"Holy shit! Really?!"

"Language, Aster. But yes, really."

"Wow, that's - I would say it's about time, but I honestly didn't think it would ever happen!"

"It was rather sudden, I admit."

"So, who proposed?"

"AIOS did."

"Congrats, mom!"

"Thanks, kid. C'mere, give your mom a hug!"

"Hey, watch the hair!"

"Congratulations, AIOS."

"Thank you, Nova. I must admit, I awaited you and your brother's reactions with some trepidation."

"If you and mom are happy, we're happy. I mean, you've practically been married this whole time anyway."

AIOS and Kate's engagement was ever so slightly overshadowed by the twins' imminent birthday, which marked their transition into teenhood.

Aster establishes himself as a pleasure seeker who thinks smarts are more important than being a slave to the grindset, and is very much not into gym rats.

Nova hopes to meet more Sixamese, particularly if they're charming and fun to be around. She finds vampires creepy; especially when they turn into bats. Brr!

AIOS found Aster upstairs in the games room; his sister was playing a video game on her computer.

"You're back! Catch any bad guys today?"

"Not today, no. It has been quiet at the station."

"Boring!"

"The crime rate going down is a positive thing, Aster. It means our efforts have been successful."

"If you say so..."

"Are you and your sister well?"

"Yeah? Why wouldn't we be?"

"Your mother left you home alone. As did your father."

"No they didn't, Maisie's here. I actually told mom we didn't need a babysitter, we're almost thirteen, but she wouldn't listen!"

AIOS was not surprised. Kate was the very epitome of common sense, although his belief in that aspect of her personality was now ever so slightly shaken.

The Murrays rarely locked the back door when they were at home - the kids liked to come and go from the back yard, and any would-be burglars knew better than to target the home of Walden's chief protector, a robot with enhanced combat capabilities.

The strange alien simply walked in.

Kate was up in a flash, grabbing the twins and sweeping them protectively behind her as she retreated from the intruder.

There were other aliens apart from Aster and Nova living in Walden, but she had never seen this one before...or had she? Something about him seemed vaguely familiar...

There was no time to think it over - a stranger had just barged into their home, and though it was the middle of the day and AIOS was just outside, Kate was not about to take any chances.

"Stay right there! Who are you? What are you doing in my house?"

"My name is Sepal. I come in peace."

The alien's voice was the strangest thing Kate had ever heard, resonant and melodious and oddly accented.

The feeling that she had heard it before was so strong, it momentarily stunned her.

The whole family was present for the conversation which followed; Kate would've had to lock Aster and Nova up to keep them away.

Besides, they were almost thirteen years old. Old enough to hear what Sepal had to say.

Sepal told his story as best he could using only words: how he had not been slated to become a Pollination Technician - instead, he was initially trained to be an anthropologist, a scholar - but a routine test revealed that his genotype made him more useful as a pollinator, instead.

He had never been happy with the assigned role. He still yearned to explore, study, learn about alien peoples and civilizations. The thought of having many offspring scattered across the galaxy whom he would never meet made him sad.

"Among my people, we don't get a choice. We perform the duties assigned to us, according to our personalities and aptitudes which are assessed throughout childhood. It's supposed to help create a productive and harmonious society, where everyone performs the role they are best suited for."

"How very dystopian."

"I am not familiar with that term."

"I'm not surprised; it doesn't seem like the sort of concept they'd want you to learn over there. Basically, it denotes an oppressive, totalitarian society where people are stripped of their rights and freedoms."

If she had just insulted Sepal's culture, Kate didn't care. It frankly sounded like something straight out of Brave New Sim-World.

Sepal didn't seem offended, though.

"Our society wasn't always this way, but certain measures were implemented after the disaster which nearly made my species go extinct. It's quite effective- and we're not oppressed. Aside from our duties and reproduction, we're free to do whatever we please."

Right, Kate thought, unimpressed. Apart from having the freedom to choose how to live their lives, everyone is perfectly free!

"So why are you here?"

"I rebelled. I didn't want to be a Pollination Technician anymore. I was offered two choices: behavioral editing or exile."

Kate was outraged. Behavioral editing?! Or, in other words, brainwashing!

"I chose exile."

A long, meaningful silence greeted this statement.

"And you decided to come here, because...?"

"I...I didn't know where else to go. I know you don't remember me, Katherine, but I remember you. There was...a connection between us. I couldn't think of anyone else who might help me. I'm sorry if that was presumptuous of me."

"If you want me to leave, I will."