Project Seraphina [LitRPG, Magitech, GL]

Chloe and I are standing in one of the courtyards of the army base in the pre-dawn hours on Tuesday morning while Hank does his final checks and calibrations to see to it that his copter is flightworthy for handling the long journey back home. He’s not anywhere near a hundred percent and has been told by Chloe in no uncertain terms that he is not in fighting shape for at least two weeks, probably longer. But, it was decided by her, him, and the other medical personnel that his condition is stable enough to travel home.

Just before we’re about to depart, we’re approached by a familiar face with short, dark brown hair who greets us with a wave and a smile.

“Feels like I just ran into the two of you again, and now you’re heading off again,” Lindsey says. “I thought you’d stick around a little longer, get debriefed, maybe we’d all head to a restaurant and–”

“Right now, we just want to go home,” Chloe says. “It’s been a month straight of fighting for our lives and having this battle hanging over our heads. I want to sleep in my own bed and head to work in the morning knowing that I’m not going to have to fight for the fate of the country in two weeks. I want to spend time with Mom and Dad. Spend time with Sera doing things more enjoyable than killing–”

“Oh, no, that’s quite alright, Chloe. I don’t need to get a play-by-play of everything the two of you do behind bedroom doors.”

Lindsey looks away, but Chloe only grins. She’s always been a bit too boastful of her relationship with me, but it’s one of the things I find endearing about being her partner.

“What are everyone else’s plans?” Chloe asks, mercifully changing the subject on Lindsey. “Sera and I’ve been spending the last couple of days looking after Dad after his injury, so we haven’t had a chance to catch up with everyone.”

“Well, Alana will be staying around here for a few more days before heading back. She’s being promoted into the ranks of senior officers now, so the top brass wants to get to know her a little better. Jasmine got in late last night; the two of them will be staying together while here.”

“That’s good,” I say. “I’m glad the two of them will get some time together. And what about you and Stefan? I remember you mentioned the other day that the two of you were trying to use your absence to lure out some folks causing trouble.”

“The ruse failed. They never attacked. Must’ve sniffed out the trap and not taken the bait.” Lindsey just shrugs, not looking too upset about it.

“Do you think they were Legion operatives that you were hunting?” Chloe asks. “Maybe they decided to just surrender?”

“Doubt it. If they really were Legion partisans, they would have attacked on Friday with the other cells throughout the country. The fact that they waited suggests that they are unaffiliated with either the Loyalists or the Legion.”

“You think there’s a third power at play?” Chloe asks.

“Third?” Lindsey scoffs. “There’s not just two or three or however many powers. There are dozens… hundreds, maybe even thousands. We’ve been lucky thus far, but it’s only a matter of when, not if, this delicate balance is going to shift.”

“You think war is on the horizon,” I say.

“Not right away, but I think it’s only a matter of time. Months, maybe; a couple of years if we’re lucky. Despite all the headlines about conflicts overseas, the three of us have been lucky enough to grow up in an era of relative peace, by historical standards. But the System’s arrival brings with it chaos, and chaos invites the ambitious to seize power for themselves.”

“I guess that’s why Clara has been so up-in-arms about the two of us,” I say. “Calling us ‘menaces’ and threats to society. Even going so far as to say that her job is to ‘eliminate unruly variables’.”

“I know as well as you do that the two of you have no desire to rule, but that doesn’t mean that she’s wrong to be worried. You both certainly have the capability to conquer, especially considering what you’ve told me about yourselves. As for ruling… tyrants rarely care about the people underneath them. Which, to be fair, I’m not calling you two tyrants, only trying to explain her concern.”

“Girls, are you almost ready?” Hank calls out from beside the helicopter. “We’ve got a good flight ahead of us and I’d like to spend as much of it in the dark as possible.”

“We’ll be there in just a moment, Dad!” Chloe calls out. “No more than five minutes.”

“Five minutes, then I’m leaving with or without you. You don’t want the ride, and you two can fly back yourselves.” The fact that we very much could do exactly that only lends credence to the notion that he actually would leave us behind.

“But we have no desire to do so,” I say. “Sounds like an absolute pain in the ass, and far more trouble than it’s worth.”

“That it is.” Lindsey crosses her arms. “I wouldn’t want that sort of position either. I’m quite happy where I am, all things considered. I feel like my boyfriend and I are doing some good, protecting the peace and the people. Do well enough thanks to contract work that we don’t have to worry about food and shelter, we get to be our own bosses. I’m sure you don’t need or want the details, but we do pretty well–”

“Nope.” Chloe grins. “Tried dating a guy once, dating Sera is way, way better.”

“I have to agree with Chloe on this one,” I say. “Too attracted to Chloe to have even an inkling of interest in anyone else.”

“Yeah. Pretty sure you two are made for each other. Literally, based on what you’ve told me. Anyway, I’ll try to keep in touch with both of you over the coming weeks and months. Hopefully the next time we meet, it’ll be purely a get together for fun, no business involved.”

“That would be nice.” Chloe’s eyes shift slightly to Hank, who’s beckoning the two of us in. “I guess Kristil already left?”

“Yeah, the hothead is off… I don’t know where. Probably to wherever the next fight is. Just be aware, Sera, Chloe. The next time the two of you meet her, it might be as enemies.”

“I hope not,” I say. “She might be erratic, hotheaded, and so forth. But she knows the pain of losing her family and those most important to her. I hope that will be enough to steer her on a more righteous path.”

“So did Renault, if his earlier declarations were to be believed, and we all know how that turned out. I’m not saying she will be an enemy, but she likes fighting even more than Sera does, and that sort of glee can get addictive. It wouldn’t be the first instance I’ve heard of, of a person going battle-mad. And there’s no superiors, nor the threat of court-martial to rein her in. Let’s just say that folks like her will relish the chaos of the coming age. As will all those with ambitions and the newfound ability to match”

“Let’s hope that chaotic time comes later rather than sooner,” Chloe says.

“Let’s.” Lindsey and I say together.

---

Despite Hank’s hope to make it all the way home in the pre-dawn hours coupled with the extra darkness afforded us by traveling west, it’s the middle of morning when we finally do arrive back home. Home. Yeah, the word has a really nice ring to it. Especially when all four of us are here for the first time together in over half a year. If only Lily, my other Mom were around. Then everything would be just perfect.

“Are you okay, Sera?” Chloe asks, already sensing my pensive mood.

“Just, wishing my mother was here with us.” Sensing the potential for misinterpretation, I quickly clarify. “The woman who raised me. Lily. Not that Alicia isn’t also my mother. Just that I wish Lily were here too.”

“It’s fine, Sera!” Chloe takes my hand, intertwining her fingers in my own. “I understand, and I wouldn’t dare try to take her memories from you.”

Hearing the sound of the copter— even though it’s Ethertech instead of internal combustion, it is still quite loud— Alicia runs out. Her face is one of indignation, immediately softening upon seeing all three of us, alive, and in more or less okay shape. She runs out toward Chloe and I, immediately grabbing us both into a hug.

“I’m… I’m so glad to see that you’re both okay.” She sheds tears of joy.

“Can we head inside?” Chloe asks. “Dad needs some rest and to get out of the sun.”

“Oh… Of course, of course. I didn’t realize you’d be home so early, so I don’t have any breakfast ready. Give me a few minutes, and I’ll put together… Um, how do biscuits and gravy sound?”

“Sounds incredible, Mom,” Chloe says. “I’d love it.”

I just smile and nod.

---

Behind tinted windows and a dim ambience more suitable for a romantic dinner than a family breakfast, the four of us sit down to eat. The food is nothing special in the grand scheme of things, but after so much fighting, after our family being torn apart by circumstance and the misdeeds of others, the calm and relaxing atmosphere is a balm for my weary heart.

“It sounds like all three of you have had quite the experience,” Alicia says. “But for me, all that matters is that you’re all safe and sound.”

“That’s the hope,” I say. “I am going to head off in a bit to try to get some work done for class. Turns out that fighting for the future of the country will lead to me falling a bit behind on my research and my grading.”

“How’s that been going?” Hank asks. “I know a couple of folks who've gone on to become university professors. I was planning to do the same thing before, well, everything.”

“It’s definitely been an adjustment process. But I look forward to having more time to settle in and focus my attention on that rather than torturing myself in dungeon crawl after dungeon crawl.”

“No more dungeons?” Alicia asks, and I can nearly see sparkles in her eyes.

“Maybe over summer break. But not during the school year. Not unless it’s an emergency, anyway.” I plan to stay out of national and international affairs for the foreseeable future, but for the sake of protecting my home and my city, I will raise my swordstaff in defense.

“Thank goodness,” she says. “What about you, Hank?”

“I’d like to keep working on glyph research with Sera. Maybe build out a basement like my old lab so–”

Alicia doesn’t look pleased, but she just sighs. “If that’s what it’ll take to keep you here, then I suppose I can oblige that request.”

“What about you?” Chloe asks. “I figured you’d be running off to the office the moment you finished with breakfast.”

“When I heard that Hank was hurt after the battle and that the three of you were coming back home this morning, I decided to take the day off. Hank can’t really go out during the day, which means someone’s going to have to stay home and take care of him until he’s recovered.”

I didn’t think she ever took the day off if it wasn’t an absolute emergency, but I suppose this is as good of a reason as any.

“Well, I think I’m going to head off now,” Chloe says. “A medic’s task is never done. But it’ll be nice to fight battles against microbes instead of humans again.”

“Take care, Chloe,” I say. “I love you, and I’ll see you when we both get home tonight.”

“I look forward to it.” She gives me a kiss, and then she’s out the door.