The Lonely Beholder. Chapter 1
The Founders' Sanctuary is a well-protected and high-tech base. The only ones who could compare to them are Dawn's children, but is that a surprise? They say that even Riley hasn't been human for a long time, but melancholy chthonic biomass.
These Children don't have a Mother of their own.
Her azure eye is in every corner of the Founders' base. Indicators, sensors, feel like her own neurons. When she connects to the System, sensing thin needles penetrating her spine, she stands guard.
One of the cameras sees the Daughter. The Mother observes her, keeping a record of her medication. Sensor manipulators slide on the shelves, moving the boxes while the Daughter deals with the youth who had occupied an empty warehouse. The Mother is proud of her girl, she became a leader.
One of the manipulators is failing, and Mother has to strain her mind to put the two boxes aside. These drugs will not be taken into account by the general registry.
And here comes the second child, the Son. The uneven light of the tiny lab is refracted by his suit-lined vertebrae. The Mother knows that look. A passionate scientist who's lost touch with reality. The Daughter is particularly hard on him.
The Mother glimpses the Son's group of requests and studies the purpose of his work. “Flexible support”, “increased resistance for armour plates”. Even the most vulnerable child serves the war.
The Mother is attached to her children, and attachment blinds.
To be continued…
