Page 59 of I Dated a Retired Hero

“The barbeque has turned into a wedding since everyone we love was coming anyway.”

They got another chair and sat together in the gazebo while the souz vide tanks were prepped and steaks were vacuum sealed. Klauz spent a lot of time making out with Drin, which lasted until Vikor showed up. Ekron arrived in his golden glory. Techor and Remark were all around her shortly, and Drin put her foot down and set them all to work.

It was just before the official start of the party when someone slowly walked down the drive. Litha got up and ran toward her, the woman held her arms out, and they hugged, holding on.

Litha leaned back. “Amber. You... you’re here.”

“Yeah. I got an invitation from Zera, and she paid a transporter to get me here. I would like to play something in celebration if you don’t mind.”

Litha nodded. “Please. Absolutely. I love listening to you. Can you still display?”

“I can, and I will. May I take what I need from you and your fiancé?”

“Please.” Litha bent forward and felt the cool wave on her mind.

“Thank you.” Amber smiled. “Now, to your fiancé. He looks worried.”

“He frequently looks worried when I just take off toward strange actives.” She linked arms with Amber and walked toward Sergei.

He was standing, and he smiled. “Another daughter?”

Amber shook her head. “No. I am her sister. I don’t have the same activation, but I would like to perform at the reception, if I may.”

“Certainly. Do you dance?”

“Oh. No. I play, but I would like to perform something about each of you, and to do so, I would like to see the memories of you and Litha. Nothing intimate. I don’t show that.”

Sergei nodded. “Certainly.”

Litha muttered, “Touch her forehead with yours.”

He did, and then Amber said, “Thank you.”

Sergei looked at her. “Sister? How old are you? You look very young.”

“I have a legal adult classification.”

“She’s forty-six. She was an early activation, and everyone was freaked out at the UV radiation she emitted when she was four, so she was put into stasis and held there until our parents’ deaths caused a probate search that identified that she was still four years old and in stasis. She was put into care in the capitol, and we got in touch when she was declared an adult two years ago.”

Amber nodded. “What they don’t tell you about stasis is that your mind ages even if your thought process is slowed.”

Sergei nodded. “I know.”

Litha watched her older sister nod. Amber had been forgotten. Her radiation had been considered dangerous the moment that it appeared. Amber was the reason that her parents had a plan in place when Litha went off.

Amber whispered, “Is this Grandma’s house?”

Litha nodded. “I have the album with your baby pictures and the crayon drawings that you made.”

Amber smiled. “May I see them?”

Litha felt eager. “Come on.”

“Sergei mentioned a daughter?”

“Cipher. Kiska.”

“Oh, right.” Amber nodded.

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