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.
Aurora: What are you talking about? Nothing’s going to go south. We have a strong case, and Cay is right here and–
Opal: Ro. Salt’s lawyers got him out of fifteen murder charges after the accident in the mines. This is nothing compared to that.
Aurora: …Okay, yeah, you’re right. As a pure numbers thing one charge of trafficking is nothing in comparison but–
Opal: Just. Promise me, okay? Promise that if this goes south we’ll–we’ll still be able to…
Opal: Oh, Watcher, I can’t–I can’t do this. I can’t–
Aurora: Hey. Hey hey hey–starshine, look at me. I promise. I promise, no matter what happens, I’ll be with you.
Aurora: You are never going to lose me. Never. No matter what happens today, tomorrow, ten years from now–it doesn’t matter. I will always be with you.
Opal: Even if…even if I have to go to Sixam or something?
Aurora: Even if you have to go to Sixam. There is nowhere you can go where I won’t find you. I’m always going to have your back.
Opal: Ro…
Aurora: We’re partners, Opal. We got each other through that whole mess, we’ll get each other through this one. Everything’s going to fine.
Opal: What if it’s not…
Aurora: Then we’ll make it fine.
Opal: …Thank you.
Aurora: Always.
Judge: Thank you, Mr. Swirl, for that…enlightening testimony. Are there any further questions?
Marzipan: The defense calls Opal Crystal to the stand, your honor.
Opal: What–
Cadence: It’s okay. Just remember what we practiced.
Cadence: Now would be a wonderful time to show up, Commander…
-
Marzipan: Miss Crystal, what is your relation to the accused?
Opal: He’s my stepfather. Was, I think. He and my mother divorced some time ago.
Marzipan: I see. Now, we’ve all seen your accusations of my client. But surely as an illegal you understand that he had a duty to–
Opal: I’m not.
Marzipan: …Excuse me?
Opal: Illegal. I was born in Wineburg General nine months after the Moratorium was put in place. I was born on Maxis soil to a Maxis citizen, and where my other parent was from doesn’t matter. People aren’t illegal, Miss Varnish, but what was done to me was.
Marzipan: You–
Opal: Article 51, Section 13 of the Sixam Accords states that any sort of laboratory research on an unwilling or unconsenting subject of Sixam heritage is punishable in a court of law. Mr. Mine facilitated that research. It’s why we’re here.
Marzipan: You little–
Judge: Counsel, that’s enough. Miss Crystal, please answer in only yes or no from now on.
Opal: Yes, your honor.
Cadence: Your honor, I’d like to call a brief recess.
Judge: Granted. Ten minutes.
Opal: I’m sorry. I messed up, didn’t I?
Aurora: Opal, no! You were right!
Cadence: You are right, but Varnish…she’s going to tear us apart if we don’t make a move. I’m just stalling for time.
Snow: Stalling for time? Time for what?
Cadence: I called for backup. She should be here any minute.
Snow: *gasp*
Rainbow: Apologies for the delay, Cadence. I had to gain clearance to land and–nikan? Is that–Watcher, it is you!
Rainbow: Then that must mean….
Cadence: I hate to break up the reunion, but we need you in the courtroom, Commander. We’ve got to break this guy now, or he’ll get away.
Marzipan: You cannot be serious!
Rainbow: I am deathly serious, Counsel. Crimes against Sixam citizens fall under the Accords legal reach. Aiding and abetting a kidnapping certainly counts.
Judge: And that the plaintiff is your daughter has nothing to do with this?
Rainbow: Nothing. I would be here for any citizen of Sixam. Her being my child simply means her heritage is of birth, not legal status.
Judge: A clever way of saying yes. Alright. *gavel bangs* Custody of Salt Mine is hereby awarded to the Sixam government. Get him out of my court.
Marzipan: We’re going to appeal this.
Rainbow: Go right ahead. You won’t find erasing this so easy.
Opal: …Commander?
Rainbow: Hm? …oh, kiitra…look at you. You look so much like your mother.
Opal: I…I’m sorry, I didn’t–I don’t mean to–
Rainbow: What are you apologizing for? This was hardly your fault.
Opal: No, I. …This isn’t how I imagined meeting you. I thought…I just…*sigh* I don’t know. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t be bothering you.
Rainbow: You aren’t! Oh, kiitra…knowing you exist is a great gift! I am only sorry it came under such circumstances. Would that I could have taken your place…
Opal: Don’t. No one should ever have to go through that and I–
Rainbow: You are very brave, Opal, and I am so very proud of you.
Opal: I…
Rainbow: Come. Let us talk away from this place.
Rainbow: You must have questions. About your heritage, why I left…
Snow: Mom told me what she could, so…I think I just have one question. Did you know I existed?
Rainbow: Ah–no. I did not. Had I known, I would have come for you and Snow both. I am sorry, Opal: I should have fought harder to stay.
Opal: …Yeah. You should have.
Opal: You should have, but you didn’t, and…well, here we are, I guess. We can’t change the past, Mom. We just have to…live with it.
Rainbow: …You called me Mom.
Opal: I’m sorry, was I not supposed to–
Rainbow: No, no! It is alright–it is more than alright. I am honored you think of me as such, kiitra. Thank you.
Opal: Don’t thank me yet. You still have go to talk to Mom.
Rainbow: *laugh* Yes, I do.
Rainbow: …Snow, do you perhaps have a moment?
Rainbow: I wanted to apologize to you. For the way that I left, and for…never attempting to return. It has been a long time.
Snow: Twenty five years. I thought…
Snow: Well, honestly? I thought that you’d forgotten about me, and we’d both just…moved on.
Rainbow: I could never! I thought of you every day I was gone. I have focused on nothing but being able to return to this planet, to you, if only. If only to say goodbye properly this time.
Snow: And what if I don’t want to say goodbye? What if I want us to stay together? Will Sixam allow it?
Rainbow: They will have no choice! If you will have me, I will not leave your side again.
Snow: You…you really never forgot, did you?
Rainbow: How could I, nikan? I left my heart with you all those years ago. You do not forget the one who has claimed your heart.
Quartz: Mom? Mom, where are you? Can we–oh, for Watcher’s sake!
Quartz: Can you two keep the PDA to a minimum so we can go home today, please?
Snow: *laugh* I can’t make any promises, sweetheart. We’re about 20 years overdue for a wedding.
Opal: You know? I never thought I’d be here. Watching my mothers actually be happy. I thought the best that would happen was we’d get away from Salt.
Aurora: You did, though. He’s gone now, and it’s over. You’re all safe. They can be together.
Opal: I know. I just…what am I supposed to do now?
Opal: I mean, it’s over now. Do I even…I’ll need to find a place to stay now that it’s safe, or stay with Mom, or…I don’t even have a real home right now.
Aurora: Silly. Of course you do. So long as I’m around, you’ll always have a home with me.
Opal: Ro, I…
Aurora: Sorry, was that too forward?
Opal: No. Just…that sounded like you want me around.
Aurora: Of course I do. I…this might sound a little silly, but I…I really like you, Opal. I want to spend more time with you, and be with you, and…everything.
Opal: Even with everything wrong with me?
Aurora: There is nothing wrong with you. You’re kind, and brave, and smart, and…I can’t see life without you anymore. I don’t want to.
Opal: Ro…*chuckle* You’ll never get rid of me if you keep talking like that.
Aurora: Why would I want to?
Opal: You’ll stay with me? Until the end?
Aurora: Not until the end. Always.
Opal: Always, then.
Nebula: I believe the phrase is “I told you so”.
Lemon: *laugh* Shut up and dance, love.
Aurora: Can’t sleep?
Opal: Mhm. Just another nightmare. I thought I’d get some air. I didn’t wake you, did I?
Aurora: Nah. I was making sure my papers are in order.
Aurora: You wanna tell me what the nightmare was about?
Opal: The usual. The lab, Salt…I know it’s over, but I just can’t get over it.
Aurora: Hey…it’s okay. It was a lot. Him being locked up doesn’t erase that.
Opal: I guess. I just–
Aurora: Hey. No guessing. You’re safe. If it takes a few more years to process that, that’s okay. What matters is it’s over and you’re alive. Everything else, we can handle.
Opal: Everything else?
Aurora: Absolutely everything else. …What’s that look for?
Opal: I was talking with Mom earlier. They want me to move in with them.
Aurora: …That house is tiny. How?
Opal: There’s a house right across the street from theirs. Mom’s stipend is enough to buy it, and it’s big enough for two. Or…three.
Aurora: Three, huh?
Opal: I know it’s a big ask, but…
Aurora: Of course I’ll move in with you, Opal.
Opal: Even if it means living with my kid sister, too?
Aurora: Hey. *laugh* I like Quartz. She’s cool. When do we leave?
Opal: As soon as we can get packed.
Opal: Well…as soon as we can get packed and tell your Dads.
Aurora: Oh, shiitake.
Nebula: You’re going to what?!
Aurora: We’re going to move to Newcrust. I did say that, right?
Nebula: Kiitra, do not take that tone with me–
Lemon: Neb, settle. Let’s hear them out first.
Opal: My Moms want me to move closer to them, and Q needs some real space now that she’s in high school. There’s a house in the Eden Development that just went on the market, and…
Aurora: And we’re moving out there. Pretty simple.
Opal: Ro….
Nebula: Kiitra. This is not a decision to make lightly.
Aurora: I’m not! I know what I’m doing, Dad.
Lemon: You two have talked about this? Moving in, owning a place…it’s a big step together.
Aurora: Of course we have.
Opal: More than a few times. We’re not just jumping into this without a plan, Lemon. If things don’t work out, we can…well, we can stay with my Moms, or…come back here.
Lemon: Of course you can.
Nebula: I should have known this day would come eventually. We cannot shield you forever…
Lemon: Neb…
Nebula: You are certain? Both of you?
Aurora/Opal: We are.
*laughter*
Nebula: Very well then! We should get to packing.
Lemon: Here come the dust bunnies.
Aurora: That’s everything. Phew…I didn’t think it’d be that heavy!
Opal: And we still have to get it all in the truck, too!
Aurora: *groan*
Aurora: Ugh…Dad, remind me why I thought moving out for real was a good idea?
Nebula: I could not begin to tell you, kiitra. Just know that you can always come back home, should you ever need to.
Lemon: And we’re just a phone call away. If you need anything, you ring us up right away. Got it?
Opal: Got it. But I think we’ll be okay.
Nebula: We did a good job, did we not?
Lemon: The best we could. It’s time to let her go and forge her own path. And hey–she’s not walking it alone. That means something, doesn’t it?
Nebula: That means everything.
Newcrust, that night…
Quartz: Thanks for letting me move in, guys. Mom and Rainbow are great but that house is…tiny.
Opal: And full of newlyweds?
Quartz: And full of newlyweds. Do they ever get over that?
Aurora: Not if my Dads are anything to go by!
Quartz: Nooo thank you, not my style. Blegh! *laugh* When do you start work, Aurora?
Aurora: In the morning. New gal at the station. I can drop you off at school if you want?
Quartz: I’ve got debate, so I’ll be out earlier than you.
Aurora: Right, right…Opal, you gonna be okay on your own?
Opal: I have paints, doors that lock, and two very protective Moms just down the road. I will be fine.
Opal: Anyway, Q, you’ve got exams this year, right?
Aurora: That’s right! First placement’s in freshman year. You give where you’re going any thought yet?
Quartz: Uh. Some. Just…some.
Aurora: Oh?
Quartz: I was thinking about tech, like Mom. I’ve always liked programming, so maybe…
Aurora: There’s a great technology school in San Marsh, I think. Gonna take some serious grades to get in there, though.
Opal: That shouldn’t be too hard. Q’s always been smart. Dinner’s ready!
Opal: Hey, Ro, Cadence is good at computers, right? Maybe she could help.
Aurora: Oh! Yeah, she’s great at them. I’m sure she’d be glad to help.
Quartz: …Maybe.
Quartz: I’m just not sure, you know? Everyone else seems to have things figured out but I don’t and it’s annoying as all heck!
Opal: I’m pretty sure not many people have it figured out, Q; I didn’t!
Aurora: All I knew was I wanted to help people. But it’s cool if you need time to figure it out anyway–you’ve got a whole four years before final placements!
Opal: And if you don’t know what to do by then, that’s okay, too. You’re always welcome here.
Quartz: Thanks. I’ll do the dishes.
Opal: …Q, I’ve been meaning to ask you something.
Quartz: Yeah?
Opal: How’re you holding up? I mean…after what happened to Salt. He was your dad.
Quartz: I’m fine! It’s cool, totally cool.
Opal: Q.
Quartz: I. *sigh* I don’t know if I should hate him or miss him, Opal. I hate him for what he did to you, and to Mom, but he was–he was okay to me! He never yelled or hit me or anything and I–I don’t know how to feel!
Opal: Q…it’s okay to be both, you know. He was your dad. You can still love him if you need to.
Quartz: I don’t want to! I want to hate him and forget he exists but I can’t! And it sucks and I–I–argh!
Opal: Hey…you don’t have to force anything. Take all the time you need, okay?
Quartz: I–yeah. Yeah. I’m going to bed. G’night, Opal.
Opal: G’night, Q.
Aurora: You can’t really blame her for being a mess, huh?
Opal: I don’t. Mine screwed us all up, but Q…*sigh* She did love him. It can’t be easy to lose that idea of her Dad.
Aurora: She looked ready to punch him at trial, though. I think she knows he’s gone.
Opal: Knowing and accepting are two whole different colors, Ro.
Aurora: I know, I know. *sigh* You doing okay? Been busy couple of months.
Opal: Me? I’m fine. I hated Mine and I’m glad he’s gone. He…*sigh* It’s weird. Without him being a total asparagus, we never would have met, but at the same time…
Aurora: It’s crummy, I know. People are complicated.
Opal: Tell me about it–oof–so I really don’t blame Q for being a mess over him but it’s just–ah crap–
*thud!*
Aurora: *laugh* You okay?
Opal: Ow…fine, fine. Just…let’s call it a night. *sigh* Tomorrow’ll be better.
*alarm clock buzzes*
Opal: …mm…Ro…
Aurora: Mmph.
Opal: Wake up, Ro…you’re gonna be late.
Aurora: Ngh…five more minutes…
Opal: *laugh* Come on, babe. Wake up
Aurora: …’m up, I’m up.
Aurora: If anything happens, you call me, okay?
Opal: Anything at all?
Aurora: Anything at all.
Opal: *laugh* I’ll be fine, Ro. Have a good day at work.
That afternoon…
*door slams*
Quartz: *sniff*
Opal: Uh-oh. Q? You okay?
Quartz: FINE!
Opal: That doesn’t sound fine! Come sit down–what happened?
Quartz: I failed my placement exams. My first exam and–
Opal: Hey! This was your first exam. They give these things every year, remember? I don’t think anyone passes their first year.
Quartz: You’re not mad?
Opal: Mad? Why would I be mad? Oh, Q. Really, it’s okay! You can try again next year, or the year after, or when you go to college–you’re fine, I promise.
Quartz: …Thanks, Opal. I did get homework, though, so I should…probably get started.
Aurora: Need some help?
Quartz: That’d be great, thanks.
Opal: Say, Ro, how did you place into the Network?
Aurora: I didn’t place straight into the Network, actually. I placed into the military, and working at the local gym, so when I went to sign up for service the Network recruited me. Something about emotional aptitude scores–I don’t know, it’s all over my head.
Quartz: But you still knew what you wanted to do, right? Did you always know?
Aurora: Sure, but that’s me! Pop didn’t know what he wanted to do until he was halfway through college. Everybody’s got their own pace, Quartz. Just take it at yours and you’ll be fine. All those placement exams do is help set your classes to something more specific anyway.
Quartz: Meaning little miss paint splatter over here would have placed straight into art school.
Opal: *laugh* You’re not wrong there! I never had the head for this math stuff, that’s for sure.
Quartz: Seriously, though…thanks, Opal. I’m…really glad to have you back.
Opal: And I’m really glad to be back. Everything’s gonna be okay, Q. You’ll see.
One year later…
*phone buzzes*
Opal: Hm? Oh!
Opal: Hi, Cadence. Hm? Oh, we’re doing fine. Nothing to report, I guess, so–wait. What? I…oh.
That night…
Aurora: I’m home.
Quartz: Welcome back–whoa crud–
Aurora: Careful!
Opal: Bend your knee, Q!
Quartz: It’s bent–ah! *thud*
Aurora: What’s for dinner?
Opal: Grab a bowl and you’ll find out.
Quartz: Rainbow is really taking to this Simstagram thing. Fifteen hundred followers in less than a month.
Opal: Good for her. How was work, Ro?
Aurora: It was fine! The usual; quiet paperwork and training for ops. Nothing out of the ordinary for an actual first year placement.
Opal: Good. We could use some quiet.
Opal: Ro, you know you can tell me anything, right?
Aurora: Sure I do. And you can tell me anything, too. Why?
Opal: Just…making sure.
Aurora: Tell you anything, huh?
Aurora: *sigh* If only it was that easy…
The next morning…
Aurora: First snow of the year.
Opal: Mom’ll be happy. She always loves it when it snows.
Aurora: *laugh* I bet she does!
Aurora: Hey, listen–I might be late coming back tonight. There’s some stuff happening at work and I need to deal with it.
Opal: What happened to quiet paperwork?
Aurora: Eh, you know how it goes. Newest girl gets the short end of the stick. My boss texted me and I’ve got to go in–that kinda shiitake, you know?
Opal: So everything’s okay?
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