CHAPTER 182: CHAPTER 181: GETTING SETTLED PART 10

The next few weeks were repetitive and hectic, as random and anticlimactic as her display ended up being, she had given the faction a lifeline it had desperately needed.

Unity station Mirage meant that the residents could be moved into potentially permanent housing as soon as they were contracted and the display they all put on was enough to make everyone decide that the faction could do anything that the committee could.

It made much of the initial rehousing meaningless, but the area was officially named as the central processing centre for transferees, a halfway point where uncontracted members of the faction could stay until finalised,

The adults were the first to be contracted and they were all officially inducted in the two days following the unveiling of the space station, they then held an on the spot nomination/election for the station director and the vote was practically unanimous in Leanna’s favour.

No one could think of anyone better than the person that had the cleanest director record of anyone who had been at the helm of SATS operations and she immediately got to work along with everyone else getting it prepped.

The shell was perfect, but it was completely empty and no one had the ability to redecorate it initially since it didn’t count as faction territory. As a result, Lillim taught her how to use divinity contracts to relinquish property and she officially signed the station over, that simple act made it possible for them to create and modify as they saw fit.

They had of course limited modification rights on the station to householders, the risk of someone modifying something in a way that caused damage to the structure was entirely too high to freely allow it.

The renovations took several days and while that was happening, Alysse was hard at work analysing data to create a new vehicle type dedicated to space travel, whilst also trying to master her new body and its benefits.

"What is it you were again?" Lillim asked as she watched her little protegé disassemble, reassemble and reshape her hand.

"Not really sure, the system calls me "Queen Of Constructs". Personally I feel less like a queen and more like a colony, I can feel pretty much every molecule and even assimilate with Arti to make his powers my own."

"Interesting and what can you do exactly other than stare at your hand like you’ve taken copious amounts of hallucinogens?"

"Not much on my own, but if I do this..." Alysse was suddenly swarmed with nanites which seemed to meld into her body, she then used her fine control of them to reshape her entire body and even give herself wings, gills and blades for arms. "...I’m not sure how I feel about it yet to be honest, but if it’s bad I’ll get over it."

"While we’re on the subject of getting over things, how are they going with Omedra?"

"Slowly, I’m getting used to myself and the emotional changes I’m feeling, it’s a bit overwhelming and I’m not surprised that humans are so weird."

Lillim laughed, then approached her. "Those are the nanites that can absorb just about anything and replicate indefinitely yes?"

"Yeah, it’s a bit of a waste, because they die when I expel them."

Lillim pouted and nodded her head, completely unimpressed by Alysse’s uncharacteristic linear thinking and jammed a clawed arm through her which her body instinctively reshaped to avoid.

"Well, it doesn’t seem like a waste to me, you’re practically indestructible as you are. Your aura spoke volumes Alysse, you are not a physical entity anymore, you have become energy and energy is what holds atoms together and keeps the universe moving. Watching you make your molecules dance about, was like seeing the Mona Lisa used as a coaster."

"What’s the Mona Lisa?"

"Oh, right, I burned it away with that city...." Lillim lost herself in contemplation for a second until she finally gave up. "...The point is, you’re wasting your new talents and your youth."

When she was done with the rare display of criticism of Alysse, she left so that her words could sink in and went to see Omedra and the children.

When she arrived at Carl’s house she was greeted by no one, the house empty, but echoey thuds coming from the sparring hall, which was enough to interest her to the point of intrusion.

As the door to the hall opened she was greeted by a free for all that left her stunned, though the sight of several Kitsunoko’s dancing about left her with a phantom migraine until she saw a gleam of seriousness in the young fox’s eyes she’d never seen before.

"Interesting..." Lillim scratched her chin. "...What is it she is so desperate to fight for?"

As she asked, Kitsunoko noticed her and got distracted and the moment she did, all her siblings attacked one of the copies, most disappearing on contact but the one Levi whipped with her tail went flying.

Lillim shook her head gently, about to tell them to teach her focus before such a dangerous exercise, but then Kitsunoko recovered herself and immediately created several more illusions and running back into the fray.

"Good determination little Kitsunoko, but could I speak with you a moment?"

"Sure Grandma, what is it?"

The voice came from next to her and wasn’t one of the Kitsunokos that were fighting her siblings.

"Ki-ko? I’m not here to speak to illusions..." As she said it, Kitsunoko huffed and punched her leg before her hand throbbed with pain and made her dance around. "...You’re the real one? Then what about that one?"

Lillim gestured to one of the copies that seemed more solid than the others.

"Oh, that’s just a physical illusion, I can only use one at the moment. I can share their sense though, so I can gather five fights worth of experience at once. I can’t wait until I can make more solid ones, the others are good for distraction but generally useless."

"That’s why your mother simply uses them to replace herself whilst she turns invisible, I’ve never heard of a "solid illusion" before though, good work young lady. What’s driving this?"

"Well, it’s hard to explain, I just don’t want people to worry. I think having someone strong to protect them will make them feel safe, like everyone else makes me feel safe."

"It’s not your job to make everyone else feel safe."

"Nope! Doesn’t mean I’m not going to though!" Lillim starred at her the little fox for a second. "Everyone stop. Tiamutael, I can’t reach my daughters at present, could you please bring one here? I’ve told one to start pulsing her aura."

Tiamutael went to bring the daughter over, then gulped and asked if Lillim was sure, then did so when Lillim rephrased it as a demand."

"This is your aunt, Juliana. From now on she will be your sparring partner and I do mean for all of you..." Lillim turned to the one introduced as Juliana. "...If even a shred of their potential is wasted, your life will be."

It was the first time that they had ever seen the side of Lillim that earned her her reputation. They could see the truth behind it though, in the way they felt Juliana’s bloodlust dissipate immediately, though it didn’t make the idea of facing her less concerning as she adopted a form similar to Lillim and Leanna’s.

"Come childr-" Juliana didn’t even have time to finish before a small fox punched her in the shin and drew everyone’s attention to the floor.

Lillim couldn’t help but laugh, the others just held their heads in their hands and then Juliana picked her up as gently as possible by the wrist of her punching hand, having to use just her thumb and index finger to avoid breaking Kitsunoko’s arm.

"Wisdom is not your strength, is it?" Juliana asked, a glimmer of respect in her eye.

"Wisdom’s for old people! I’m happy being me! Razy, time to turn out the lights!" Raziel continued to hold her head in her hands as she increased the output of her paradox field, meanwhile Kitsunoko used her transformation to slip free.

Just before she landed she changed back and punched Juliana in the same place, in the same way and to exactly the same effect and leaving her siblings so judgemental Raziel dropped her paradox field.

Juliana looked at the fox, frozen in place as if trying to stop her hand from throbbing by maintaining the pressure of the attack, then she squatted down and simply starred at her.

"Mother, I like this one, the fox’s daughter has spirit."

"Well, her father is your sister’s son, of course she inherited our spirit. Now train them properly, but remember they are children, go too far and I’ll flay your divinity channels. Ta-ta children, don’t waste the opportunity." With that Lillim turned to leave.

"Get back here!"

Lillim sighed and turned back to see Kitsunoko running in place as Juliana held her tails, as she asked why and gestured to Juliana to let her go. "I just want to say thank you Grandma... HYA!" As she got in arm’s reach she stopped running like she was going in for a hug and punched Lillim in the leg.

"Ki-ko, this is now just foolish, be better than your nature little fox..." With those words, Lillm knelt down to look the now trembling fox in the eyes, then flicked her forehead. "...Juliana, change of plans, let them eat and calm down first, she needs to regain her composure."