It was all so much to take in. Even after Ivy sat her family down and explained what she knew, there was still an air of disbelief. At the very least, amidst a second rainstorm, the girls were supplied a pair of couches to sit on and a mug of tea from their unusually gentle teacher.
"He did this to you?" Sonera squinted, reflecting a bit of protective ferocity in her expression.
"Evidently so," Ivy spoke calmly, staring at her mechanical hand as she rotated it in front of her own face.
Far in the distance, Lila knew Rena and the others were watching. She couldn't even begin to imagine what they thought of it all. Even still, the Earthling had her own questions.
"But some of your memories...when you...how could I see it if the original Ivy blacked out?"
The heiress shrugged, trying to play off the dread that lingered in her heart. "What am I now may be composed of new...foreign experiences. Witnessing the original Ivy's demise might just be...part of my pre-designed package."
Lunae shook her head, her tail exposing itself as it wagged pensively. "No...that's not possible. I felt you...I still do. Your Ivy. You have her soul."
"No one ever said my father did lousy work." Ivy stared down at the tea in her hands. "But bringing me back wasn't enough. He had to change me."
She could still taste the warm liquid and feel it against her flesh.
"That machine that attacked us," Sonera murmured. "It's his obsession... isn't it. All of that work led to it. What he did to you-."
Ivy squinted, detecting Sonera's intentions. The assasin was far from distrusting. If anything, she was attempting to assign the same hate she felt towards Yrix onto Algernon.
"We have enough monsters to deal with Sonera. One problem at a time."
Sonera clenched her fist, allowing her expression to shine through. "He sent it to kill you."
"More likely to retrieve a peice of me and bring it home." The heiress explained, losing her composure by the minute. "But yes."
Lunae chimed in, resting a soft hand on Ivy's exposed features. "No matter what...we're still with you. Know that."
Ivy gulped down a bit of saliva, her lower lip quivering in dismay. She found it difficult to process anything other than abandonment when it came to her identity. To be surrounded by love and family was frankly overwhelming.
"Nothing changed." Sonera nodded, resting her own arm on Ivy's leg. "Ivy is family."
The heiress sniffled, nearly dropping her mug of tea as her arms trembled. Eventually, she broke down completely, though not before Lila joined in with a hug. Her tears fell onto her skirt, washing away a tiny smidgen of blood.
"T-thank..." Ivy struggled. "You..."
"When this is over," Lila promised. "I'll take you anywhere you want. As far away as you want."
Ivy put her mug aside, making sure Lunae and Sonera were watching as she placed a kiss on Lila's freckled cheek.
"Right," Ivy whispered in a weakened voice.
Her sharp metallic hand cradled the Earthling's face, being careful not to scratch it up. And all the while her eyes stared into the soul of her partner, awash in hues of blue and red. Eventually, she shifted her gaze back towards the rest of her family, forming a tender smile.
"And you...I want you to come with us."
Lunae placed her hands to her mouth, overjoyed by the invitation.
Sonera formed a smug grin before speaking in an unusually sly tone. "If that's what it takes to keep you two togethor."
"Hey, I'm not the only one with a girlfriend here!" Lila teased. "We're going on double dates!"
- - - - - - - - -
"She's a what?" Rena nearly spat out her drink.
"A machine. Just like the one that attacked you." Alia explained carefully, sitting atop the roof of the Aerie like a bird.
"You mean the one you ran from."
"Listen-." Alia sighed, placing a hand to her face, her jewelry jingling as she moved. "I'm not...some mighty warrior, okay? I got scared. I ran."
Rena crossed her arms dismissively. "You seemed plenty confident against the monster in my nightmare."
"Confidence against certain foes does not make me like you...or Lila...or Sonera-."
Rena shook her head, staring up at the dancer from a lower altitude. Eventually, she gave in and drew closer, placing a kiss on her smooth leg. Alia tilted her head in response, smiling with feminine confidence.
"It's okay...it would have just hurt you anyway. Yrix was our only hope." Rena huffed.
"So it doesn't bother you?" The dancer smirked.
"What...Ivy? I already knew she was a victim of her father. I just never knew it would go that far.
"Hm."
"You thought I'd distrust her now," Rena laughed. "I'm not that stupid. If Ivy were some secret robot sleeper agent, that thing wouldn't have been thrashing her around like a toy. No, I doubt she saw it coming. Any of it. I've seen a lot of terror, and hers was genuine."
Alia looked away, trying to hide her dissapointment. She liked Rena. In fact, she felt very flattered receiving love and the occasional passion-making with the girl. But no matter how many favors her shriveled heart could pass out, there was still the undeniable pull that lingered within.
"We'll have to face them. You know that...right?" Alia frowned.
"I...I know Yrix is capable of arranging that but-." Rena stammered.
"And I know you can't do it." The dancer continued. "Not to Lila. But you must let me take care of it."
"I don't know what you mean-."
"Lunae or Sonera. Pick one."
Rena backed away, her face awash with betrayal. "I'm not stabbing them-."
"It's not up to you!" Alia screamed. "Yrix is still playing her game. I intend to get ahead of it. There are things she won't tell us."
"Like what!" Rena huffed. "What could possibly justify this!"
Alia furrowed her brow as she prepared to elaborate. Despite her profession and tendency to abuse her attractive appearance, the dancer was no slouch in cunning or intellect. She had been piecing togethor Yrix's plan for some time.
"Imura could empower mere animals with the bodies of Psions. Yrix will expect the same from us. A fight to the death. A gruesome meal. That's why she's pushing Lunae so hard. She expects us to...take each other's power."
"I don't believe it." Rena shook her head. "I can't."
Before Alia could continue, the girl phased through the roof and dissapeared.