A child of two worlds, Opal Crystal never really belonged anywhere. Loved by her heartsick mother, and loathed by her stepfather, she lived her life trapped in a tower of ivory and glass. But when said stepfather betrays her, selling her to the government for experimentation, she must find the strength to carry on...even when all seems lost.
CW: This Generation contains themes of medical torture, false imprisonment, PTSD, and terminal illness.
Opal: Fear? More like hate. Maxis, the people, they…they hate us, don’t they? Hate everything and everyone from Sixam, or even part of it.
Nebula: Some do, but for most it is not hate, kiitra. It is fear. People fear what they do not understand, and it is always the innocent who pay for such fear.
Opal: Will it ever stop?
Nebula: Someday, perhaps. Someday.
Opal: That word. Kiitra. I’ve heard you use it before–what does it mean?
Nebula: Daughter.
Opal: But I’m not–
Nebula: It has nothing to do with blood. You are a young woman in need of help, care, and love. On Sixam, a situation such as this would mean you would be taken in by a trusted friend of your mother’s to become their child. This situation is perhaps a bit different, but the end result is the same: you are one of our family now. As such, kiitra.
Opal: Sixam sounds like they’ve got their act together.
Nebula: *laugh* Only after years of our own conflicts. When the Balance became more widespread, things began to settle.
Opal: What is the Balance, anyway? Is it like the sects of belief in the Watcher?
Nebula: To a point, yes. The Balance is a way of living that revolves around the concept that everyone and everything is all connected. What happens to one shall happen to another, and thus the scales of the universe are kept in balance. Some believe they are the Watcher’s scales, others do not. Would you like to hear more?
Opal: Please. There’s so much about Sixam that I just don’t know, and I’ve got so many questions…
Nebula: By all means: ask.
Later that day…
Opal: So how does this work? Do I just tell you what happened to me or…
Cadence: We start at the beginning. You tell me as much as you’re comfortable with talking about, as slow or as fast as you need. We do this at your pace, Opal, and if it’s too much, we stop. No questions asked.
Opal: I just…there’s blank spots in my memory. I don’t. I don’t remember all of it. Not from the facility.
Cadence: That’s normal after such a traumatic experience. Don’t worry about it–we have Aurora’s reports to fill in those blanks.
Opal: …and…getting all of this out there…we can bring it all down?
Cadence: It will take time, but yes. We can bring it all crashing down with your help.
Opal: *deep breath* …I was born in Wineburg General in 19xx…
*indistinct chatter from kitchen*
Lemon: How you holdin’ up, kiddo?
Aurora: Thinking I like Dad’s plan more and more every minute.
Nebula: I knew you would.
*some time later*
Opal: The next thing I remember, I was waking up in your base.
Cadence: With enough internal injuries to make car accidents look like scraped knees. *sigh* Thank you, Opal. You’ve done a very brave thing today.
Opal: What happens now?
Cadence: Now we start preparing a case against Salt and the Strudelville military. Violation of the Sixam Accords, trafficking, torture…we have to be sure it sticks, but once it does they’re going down.
Cadence: I won’t lie to you: it could take years to get a strong enough case to bury them in one go, but we can’t risk giving them any wiggle room.
Opal: Oh. I thought that…I just thought that with my story you could…
Cadence: I know, sweetheart, but the wheel of justice moves…very slowly. But, listen–
Cadence: We will get them. If I have to spend the next century hunting them all down myself, we’ll get them.
Opal: Thank you. ..You’re really warm, did you know that?
Cadence: *laugh* Benefits of temperature control, sweetheart. You call me if you need anything. I’ll let you know the minute we have a solid case.
Cadence: So how much of that did you hear?
Forest: All of it.
Cadence: Then you know what we have to do.
Forest: Are we prepared for that? Are you?
Cadence: We can’t hide forever, Forest. Everything has to end someday.
Forest: …I’ll start making preparations, then. She really got to you.
Cadence: She’s one girl, Forest. One brave girl. We owe this planet this much.
-
Aurora: Hey. Cay leave?
Opal: Mhm. Agent Stone–Forest came to get her. And I’m fine, Ro. It…I’m okay. Just…maybe a hug?
Aurora: Like you even have to ask.
Opal: …Ro? I…I know you’ve all already done so much for me, but…can I ask you a favor?
Aurora: Of course. What is it?
Opal: Help me find my family. Mom, and Q…I need to find them.
Aurora: Yeah. We’ll find them.
And so winter turned to spring…
Aurora: Sorry I’m late! They didn’t notice, did they?
Opal: Are you kidding me? The roof could have fallen off and they wouldn’t have noticed!
Aurora: *laugh* Yeah, that’s Dad and Pops for you!
Nebula: Do you see what I see?
Lemon: I do.
Lemon: Should we tell them?
Nebula: Absolutely not. They will figure such things out on their own, in their own time. You cannot rush such things, nikan.
Opal: There. All done.
Aurora: Great! Now, Miss Crystal, will you do me the honor of sharing a dance with me?
Opal: I–yes. I’d like that.
Opal: I should warn you I’ve got two left feet.
Aurora: And I’ve got two right. We match.
-
Nebula: See? I told you they would figure it out.
Three months later…
Aurora: Oh! Hey, Chief. Sorry–have you been waiting long?
Forest: A few minutes. I’ve got some news. Is Opal home?
Aurora: Uh-huh. You know you could have just knocked, right? Dad and Pop are in Wineburg this week. He’s not here to bite your head off.
Forest: …It’s not good news. I didn’t want to give it to her alone.
Aurora: …Oh. Okay. Come on in, then.
Opal: Welcome back, Ro. Have a good run?
Aurora: Uh, yeah. Opal, there’s…
Forest: I’m afraid I’ve got news, Opal.
Opal: Chief Stone! Oh–we should sit down, shouldn’t we?
Aurora: Alright, cut the suspense. What happened?
Forest: Cadence and I have been talking with legal. We don’t have enough for a case against Mine.
Opal: What?! But–I gave Cadence all I had! That had to be enough! What about Wineburg General? My paperwork?
Forest: Stripped clean. Someone came in and claimed your papers and then had the files erased from the county. They wanted to be sure you didn’t exist.
Aurora: This has Mine written all over it, the rat. There’s got to be something we can do!
Forest: Without a way to prove legal citizenship, there isn’t much. He could just claim we’re framing him and he wouldn’t be seen as wrong.
Forest: If we could just find your mother, we’d have the proof we need. It’s impossible for a person to disappear entirely!
Opal: –! Wait! That’s it! We need to look for me!
Aurora: …Uh, starshine? What are you talking about? You’re right here.
Opal: Yes, but I wasn’t in San Marsh! Missing person boards have to be updated with family information!
Aurora: Shiitake, you’re right! Meaning if we find a listing for you–
Forest: We find your family. There’s one site that aggregates all of those listings–come on. We can use the office tower.
Opal: This always makes me sick…how many names there are on this list. Hang on…sorting by date….raw only…female…twenty to twenty five…fifteen results.
Forest: Cross your fingers.
Opal: …I found it. “Female, 21, white hair, white eyes, white skin, last seen in finance district of San Marshmallow. Photo available only upon request.”
Aurora: How do you know that’s it?
Opal: The user name. “WhereUGoQGo.”
Forest: I’m sorry?
Opal: My sister. I called her Q all the time, and…the night before I was taken, I told her, “Where I go, you go.” There’s a mailbox attached to the listing. Can you…
Forest: I’ll send it to Cadence.
*phone dings. Forest chuckles*
Forest: And there we go. It’s registered to a house in Newcrust’s Eden Development. I’ll send it to your phone, Aurora.
Aurora: Got it. Thanks, Chief.
Forest: I know I don’t have to tell you to be careful. If we found them, so could Mine.
Opal: We’ll be fine, Chief Stone. Thank you so much.
-
Opal: We found them! Ro, we found them!”
Aurora: I told you we would! Come on–we should get some sleep. We’ll go in the morning.
Opal: …no…wait…
Opal: Wait! Please–oh. Oh….just a dream. Just…just another…
Opal: ….*sniff*
Aurora: Opal!
Opal: Wha–
Aurora: I heard you screaming! What happened?
Opal: Oh…Ro, I’m sorry…it was just…just another bad dream….
Aurora: Your heart’s racing. Are you feeling okay?
Opal: Just…stupid. It was just a stupid nightmare but I don’t…*sigh* Could you…could you stay? Please? Just until I fall asleep?
Aurora: Of course. Lay down.
Aurora: Everything’s gonna be fine, starshine. You’ll see.
Aurora: No wonder they call this the Eden development. It’s nice, isn’t it?
Opal: …It is. Quiet. Peaceful.
Aurora: Okay, so, here’s how this is gonna go.
Aurora: I’ll go up to the door and make sure we’ve got the right house. After that, we can–
Opal: Ro, stop. I can handle talking to my own mother!
Aurora: I know you can. Let’s just make sure it is her first, okay? Let me be the one out in front in case this goes south.
Opal: …I just…okay. Okay.
Aurora: Alright, wait there. Cross your fingers?
Opal: They’ve been crossed all day. Be careful.
Quartz: Mom, I’m telling you–there’s something rotten in Strudelville! We have to go out there and find out what!
Snow: There’s always something rotten in Strudelville, sweetheart. And it’s too risky–I won’t lose you, too.
Quartz: Mom! I can handle myself!
Snow: Not in Strudelville, you can’t. No, there’s no way we’re going back there. I don’t–
*knocking*
Quartz: Ugh! Really?! If that’s Mrs. Cobbler with another casserole…
Snow: Hold that thought. Coming!
Aurora: Snow Mine?
Snow: Crystal, actually. but I did go by that name once. Can I help you?
Aurora: I think so. There’s someone here who’d very much like to see you again
Snow: What do you….
Snow: *gasp*
Opal: …Hi, Mom.
Quartz: Mom, who is it–*gasp*
Opal: Q! Oh, look at you–
Quartz: No. No!
Opal: Q, wait!
Aurora: Opal!
Opal: Q–Quartz! Stop!
Opal: Q–
Quartz: Don’t! Don’t even try to explain! You can’t just–you can’t just leave and then show up like nothing happened!
Opal: I didn’t choose to leave, Q. But even if I had, I’m glad you didn’t come with me this time.
Quartz: I knew it! I knew you didn’t mean that promise! I knew you didn’t–
Opal: Q. Look at me. Do you really think I would have wanted this for you?
Quartz: I…no, but…
Opal: I’m sorry I broke our promise, but I am so glad you’re safe.
Quartz: …..you came back. You–*whimper*
Opal: I’m back.
-
Aurora: There they are.
Snow: Opal? Opal, that’s–is that really you?
Opal: It is. I’m–oh, Mom–
Opal: Mom–Mom, it’s okay! I’m okay–you don’t have to cry!
Snow: My baby…oh, my baby, what did they do to you…look at you!
Opal: Mom…Mom, I…
Snow: Come here…oh, my baby…I’ve missed you so much.
*Three years earlier…*
Snow: Quartz, stay here.
Quartz: Mommy?
-
Snow: What was that noise?
Salt: Hm? Oh, the front door.
Snow: Salt, why would the front door…Opal! Opal, honey, where are you?!
Salt: She’s gone, Snow. Up and left, just like that! Without even a goodbye, as well. Honestly, where did she get that from?
Quartz: No….
-
Snow: What are you talking about?! Opal wouldn’t leave! Not without a word!
Salt: Seems you don’t know your baby as well as you thought you did, darling. She’s certainly never coming back here.
Snow: …Salt…what did you do?
Salt: Nothing at all. I’m just glad she finally listened to me for once in her life. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have work to do.
Snow: No no no….no…
Quartz: Mommy?
Snow: Oh–Quartz, come here…we’re leaving right now, baby. We’re not staying here another minute!
Snow: Miss Gleam and Delta were able to make it so we could disappear, and we moved out here.
Aurora: And you never stopped looking for Opal. This is everything you found on Mine?
Snow: Yes. His pockets are very deep.
Aurora: So’s the hole he dug for himself. We can take him down with this.
Quartz: Finally, someone who gets it! I say we take his butt down right now. Make him pay for what happened.
Opal: Q, it’s not that simple.
Snow: Your sister’s right. Even with all of this, we’d still need to bring charges, and find a judge…honey, we don’t have a way to do that.
Aurora: You can let me take care of that. I know a few people who would be very interested in all of this.
Quartz: And it’s not like we can just leave him alone after this! No one should get away with this shiitake!
Snow: Quartz…
Opal: I just want to be sure we can win, Q. I can’t do this twice.
Aurora: You won’t have to. We’re going to bury him alive, and he won’t know what hit him.
Opal: I can’t believe he still lives here. I thought he would have gone into hiding or something…
Aurora: Since when do idiots ever do the smart thing?
Forest: Cut the chatter.
Forest: Miss Crystal, stay with one of us at all times. Mist, I want you to hang back. Let me handle Mine.
Aurora: Roger that, Chief.
*doorbell rings*
Salt: Ugh. Who could it be at this Watcher-forsaken hour…and who the devil are you?
Forest: Chief Stone, Sugar Springs Extraterrestrial Division. I have some questions for you, Mr. Mine. May I come in?
Salt: Oh? And what might those questions be?
Forest: It’s come to our attention that you’ve had dealings with a rogue element of Strudelville’s military, and that you’ve aided and abetted a kidnapping of a Sixam citizen.
Salt: Nonsense! I know no Sixam citizens!
*door opens*
Opal: I know Mom never filed the paperwork, but I thought your memory was better than that, Mr. Salt.
Salt: …Oh, I should have known. You couldn’t even die like you were supposed to!
Forest: Salt Mine, you’re under arrest for breaking the Sixam Accords. You have the right to remain silent, you have the right to an attorney…
Salt: I know my rights.
Forest: Then I suggest you exercise them.
Salt: And I suggest you provide me with my phone call. I’m calling my attorney.
Aurora: How did I know you were going to say that.
Forest: You’ll get your call at the station. Agent Hawthorne, recover his computer. Agent Mist, remain with Miss Crystal.
Cadence/Aurora: Sir.
Opal: *singing quietly* I’ll have spent…one day…out there…
Aurora: Opal?
Opal: I used to think this was all I’d ever see of the outside world. I thought I’d spend my whole life up here, and then the lab….
Aurora: But then you ended up with us. *laugh* Not quite how you planned, huh?
Opal: I didn’t have a plan. I still don’t…not beyond the trial, at least.
Aurora: That’s still a plan. And hey–you won’t be doing it alone. We’re all going to be there, and…really, there’s nowhere else I’d rather be.
Opal: Thank you, Ro. I don’t know where I’d be without you.
Aurora: Don’t mention it.
*knocking*
Opal: Come in!
Aurora: Your Mom and Quartz are all settled in. How’re you holding up?
Opal: I…Watcher, I don’t even know! It’s all gone so fast….what happens if it all goes south tomorrow?
Aurora: It won’t. …Scoot over.
Opal: …Ro, what happens if things go south tomorrow?
Aurora: They won’t.
Opal: Just…humor me, please.
Aurora: *sigh* Salt walks, I guess, but the whole community knows what he did and we know to watch him. You three would probably have to move somewhere else, start over with new lives. For your own safety.
Opal: I don’t want that. I like it here, with you and your Dads, and knowing where Mom and Q are, and–
Aurora: Hey, that’s just worst case. It’s not going to happen–Cay’s been doing this longer than we’ve been alive! If anyone can get this rat, it’s her. You trust us, right?
Opal: Of course I do!
Aurora: Then trust me when I say it’s all gonna be okay. No matter what happens, or who we have to face, I’m always gonna be at your side.
Opal: Ro…
Aurora: Always.
Aurora: I’ll keep you safe, Opal. I promise.
Quartz: I can’t believe this hasn’t ended up on the news. I mean–how did the arrest not get any attention?
Nebula: Governments are well versed in keeping their dirty laundry tucked away. As soon as the Extraterrestrial Division was put into play…
Forest: We keep a low profile. Judge Pacific is fair, unbiased. He’ll see the case for what it is and act accordingly.
Aurora: It’s that lawyer of Salt’s that worries me!
Snow: Marzipan Varnish.
Lemon: You know her?
Snow: …we’ve…crossed paths before.
Snow: She’s ruthless. If she sees any weakness, she’ll tear us to pieces. Opal is already so fragile…
Lemon: She’s stronger than she looks, Snow. She wouldn’t have made it this far if she wasn’t.
Snow: …She gets that from her mother.
Lemon: From both of them. Have a little faith: it’ll all work out.
-
Cadence: We’ve gone over everything I can think of. Remember, don’t show any emotion. If they call you to the stand, just stay calm. There’s no jury to sway here, it’s just the Judge.
Opal: And everyone who did this to me…are you going to have to read my file?
Cadence: It’s in the record. Everyone in the courtroom is going to know, Opal.
Opal: External and internal injuries. Fifteen surgeries, damaged organs, decreased immune function, blind in one eye….it’s a miracle that I’m…that I’m even still…
Cadence: Alive. You lived to tell the tale.
Opal: ….then why does it feel like it’s never going to be over? Why does it…*sniff*
Cadence: Would you like me to get Aurora?
Opal: Please.
Cadence: Aurora! Can you come up here?
Aurora: Coming!
Aurora: What is it? Is Opal okay–
Cadence: Physically, yes. Emotionally–it’s a lot to take in. She needs you. Go on; I need to talk to Forest.
Aurora: Hey–Watcher, you’re freezing. You should get dressed–
Opal: Ro, I need to…I need to ask you a favor.
Aurora: Of course! What is it?
Opal: Forest and Cadence have contacts in other Stations, right?
Aurora: Right. Sugar Springs works closest with Brittle Bay, Gingerbrook works with Wineburg, and on and on–why?
Opal: I…need to be able to reach you somehow, if this all goes south.
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