I spent the erip home in silehinking about the situation. I DID have to deal with the missile situation as I had no doubt that those maniacs would have started firing upon poputed areas, but it still didn’t feel good to be responsible for so mahs. I really thought I’d be ok with killing some known killers after fighting all those Antithesis. I was wrong.

  I couldn’t do this again. If I was going to make things better, and protect the people I cared about, I’d need a better way of doing it. That was something for ter. I was too tired to think about it now.

  There was just enough time for me to shuck my armor, and put on something more casual, before we arrived bae. I left the up to my bots, and shuffled bato the residence. Sharron and Jane were at the table, there was no sign of the kids. Jane must have seen the fusion on my face, “The kids are all studying with Sir Froggington in Issi’s room. Apparently he ‘makes learning fun’, and he’s made individual learning pns for each of them.” She sighed, “I’ve been repced.”

  I didn’t ugh, I was too tired for that.

  Whewo older women realized I hadn’t said anything, or moved, for a few seds they looked at me wly. “Did something g with the raid? Did they get away or something?” Sharron asked.

  “No, I mao retrieve the missiles and shut down their operations. Everything is fine, I’m just tired,” I muttered in reply. “I’m just going to y down.”

  “What about dinner?” Jane asked, clearly ed.

  “Nyx, you provide Jah a way to order food with my points for her and the kids?”

  “That’s not what I’m…”

  Of course, I already have access ts to keep track of her location.

  “Great, let’s do that then. And put money on both her and An’s cards when they get low.”

  “Teddy…” Jane set, but I just couldn’t bring myself to care at this moment.

  “Going to y down now, talk to you ter.” I left them both at the table, wandered bay room, locked the door, and colpsed on the bed.

  Evelyn your biorhythms are showing that you’ve fallen into an abnormal mental state. I reend doing a quick s prior to sleeping.

  “Nyx, shut up.”

  I’m just ed about your well being. At least sider taking care of yourself before you go to sleep.

  I didn’t reply, I just y there in the dark until I fell asleep.

  I couldn’t say I had a restful sleep. In fact, I barely felt like I slept at all. Somehow I still ma my body out of bed, in order to find sustenance.

  As soon as I opehe door I o pause, “How long have you two been standing there?” I asked Issi and Jeni. The two girls were just standing in the hallway, blog my way.

  “Jane said you weren’t feeling well, and we were ed,” Jeni said as she was iing my face. “She was right, you look like shit.”

  It took me a few seds to process. “Language!” I replied grumpily.

  “Please, even Issi knows how to swear like a sailor wheuation calls for it. You ’t go two feet without someone swearing down here.”

  I looked down at Isabelle, who was looking back at me with her wide, i eyes. “Is that true?”

  The little girl just smiled, then grabbed me in the biggest hug she could manage. I had to admit, it made me feel a little bit better.

  “You didn’t answer my question,” I said, while petting her gently on the head.

  The little pressed her fato my stomad giggled, “Jane says I shouldn’t lie, so I’m not going to.”

  I ughed in spite of myself, “Fine, I’ll keep your secret, pipsqueaks.” I pulled Jeni into the hug, which sted until my stomach started rumbling and I realized I haden at all yesterday. Issi, who was closest to the offending an, immediately backed off and started yanking my hand.

  “You ’t skip meals! Jane says that all the time, you never know when your meal will e!”

  “I think we’re beyond that point now, Issi,” I ughed, but I still let her pull me forward.

  Everyone else was i when we arrived, including An. I saw his eyebrows raise as soon as I entered. “You look like shit!” he said, and romptly smacked by Jane.

  “Language!” she said sternly.

  I shared a look with the two girls, which caused us to all burst out ughing. Jane just looked at us all strangely.

  “Well, it sounds like you’re feeling a little better. You definitely didn’t seem like yourself st night.”

  I grabbed a bowl from the ter and poured some nutrient mush into it, and sat down at the table. “I wasn’t. I dealt with the problem yesterday, but if I’m being ho it’s something I never want to do again.” I shoveled the tasteless mush into my mouth and swallowed dooonful. Disgusting, but filling. “I o figure out a better way of improving things. Shooting people is not a solution.”

  Everyo the table nodded, including the kids, which kinda made me feel a little stupid. I really should have figured that out BEFoing out there.

  After a few more spoonfuls of the goop, which holy had the sistency of snot, but tasted worse, I turned back to the kids. “Do you really find that toad thing…”

  “Sir Froggington!” Isabelle corrected me.

  “Right, Sir Froggington. Do you holy find him that helpful?”

  Jeni nodded, “He taught me math and puters yesterday, and today is meics.”

  My spoon paused halfway to my mouth. “Wait, puters? Meics?”

  Jeni nodded, chewing on some toast I wasn’t even aware we had. “He knows a lot of things. He said I even earn the equivalent of a diploma, without the corporate filler, and maybe even a post sedary education, if I’m ied.”

  “You’re all enjoying learning?” I asked, looking at Eddie specifically.

  The boy didn’t react for a minute, he was too occupied with his sugary cereal, but he nodded when he finally noticed me staring at him. “It’s fueag stuff I want to learn, and he’s using my augs and stuff to make it more iing.”

  “And what, exactly, are you learning?” I asked him

  “Ating basics,” he replied, without looking up.

  “And poetry,” Issi suddenly spoke up, her face absolutely covered in jam. Eddie turned a shade of red I wasn’t sure was natural, or entirely safe, so I let him off the hook for now. All this talk of education was givihe beginning of an idea. It would probably be a little difficult to implement, but worthwhile in the long run.

  “What are you scheming now?” Jane asked, “I hate it when you get that look on your face.”

  “Nothing bad this time, I promise. After breakfast I o che the status of my squirrels, then I was thinking about dropping by Leah’s pce. I still owe her for her help.” I nodded, vihat I was making the right choice, and pushed the remaining mush away with one hand. I literally couldn’t take even a sie more, it was too disgusting.

  I poured the remaining sludge down the drain, which earned a gre from Jahen I ed up the bout it away.

  “You all study hard,” I said while messing up Eddie and Jeni’s hair. I looked at Jane “And you... rex a little will you.”

  She glowered at me for a moment, then her expression softened. “I don’t know what with you yesterday, but I’m gd you’re feelier. Whatever you do, just stay out of trouble today. You’ve been trying to do too much tely, and it’s taking a toll on you.”

  I wasn’t sure exactly what to say, so I stared at her for a few seds, then nodded. “I… do that? Probably.”

  “Why did you sound so unsure about that?” Jane asked, she left her chair and stood over me. She always did this when she wao intimidate me. I had to admit, even though I was a Samurai now, it still worked a little.

  “I will do my VERY best,” I replied, looking her in the face. “I ’t predict every sihing that could happen, but I won’t go looking for trouble. Promise.” I gave her my best cocky smirk, hoping to get her to back down.

  She stood over me for a few more seds before bag off. “Alright then, I’ll trust you this time.” As I slunk by her intimidating frame she patted me on the head. “Have a good day!” She said with a smile.

  I decided to evacuate the area as quickly as possible. I was never sure what Jane would do .