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.
Dusk: Agency?
Aurora: That’s what they call the group who helps kids find homes. It’s an adoption agency, and we’ve signed up for the kids no one else has wanted. They might be a little older than you two, or younger, we won’t know until they’ve finished all the checks and done the paperwork.
Opal: It could still take months. It’s not happening tomorrow.
Aurora: But it could happen at anytime after the checks are done, and we didn’t want to blindside you by suddenly bringing someone home. …Are you good with this, guys?
Dawn: I think so? You’re trying to help another kid, like how Gramma or Grampa would help us if something happened to you two, right?
Opal: Right. These kids don’t have a Gramma, or a Grampa, or an Aunt Q who can help them. That’s why we’re doing this.
Dawn: Dusk?
Dusk: I still want a brother. Can I make that clear?
Opal: *laugh* Crystal clear, Dusk. We can’t make any promises, but we’ll definitely keep it in mind.
Opal: Now go get ready for bed. It’s gotten late.
-
Opal: That went well! I was expecting more temper.
Aurora: Having Dawn around keeps Dusk pretty low-key. You’d swear it’s like they share a temper or something.
Opal: …maybe they do. Still, it went well. And I was thinking we could all go to the park tomorrow. You’ve got a day off, right?
Aurora: Yep! Sounds like a plan.
Dusk: Race you to the other side!
Dawn: You’re on!
Opal: Okay, this is–not as easy as Q said it was–whoa, easy, easy…
Aurora: Can you see the kids? Are they doing–whoa! Oof!
Opal: They’re fine–whoa, no falling, no falling, Opal…
-
Dawn: Hook one leg over the bar and–uh-oh.
Dawn: Spruce makes this look so easy! Whoa!
Dusk: It is easy! See, you just hook one leg over like this and then–whoops!
Dusk: …Having lost his footing, the secret agent went back to try another approach. Rather than below, he’d go from above!
Dusk: Having reached the top, he stares down at his rival and grins.
Dawn: *laugh* You are such a dork.
Aurora: I think it’s time to get off this ride.
-
Dawn: Ha! Got you!
Dusk: Ah! Mama!
Opal: Not sorry–Ro! Wow, I thought I was bad.
Opal: Alright, you ready?
Dawn: Don’t miss him!
Opal: Ack–
Dusk: Whoops!
Aurora: Okay, I think that’s enough of this one.
Dusk: Sorry about that, Mama.
Opal: It’s okay, honey. My glasses needed washing anyway.
Dawn: Mommy, how come Mama’s always so tired? Is she sick.
Aurora: No, no, she’s just…some people are born more tired than others, baby. Your Mama’s one of them.
Dawn: Is there anything we can do?
Aurora: Doing your chores helps, so she doesn’t have to do it all herself.
Dusk: And getting the ones who hurt her.
Dawn: Dusk!
Dusk: Oops.
Aurora: Do I want to know where you two got that idea?
Dusk/Dawn: No!
Aurora: Uh-huh. Well, okay. You two go get ready for bed. Your Grammas are taking you after school.
Dawn: Mmkay. We’ll say hi for you.
Opal: Was that Dawn I heard yelling just now?
Aurora: Mmhmm. Dusk has no brain to mouth filter. *snort* I think she’s his filter, actually.
Aurora: But it’s fine. It was just something from school or a classmate said something, I don’t know. I didn’t want to press them.
Opal: Not with how big tomorrow’s going to be.
Aurora: Nope. Speaking of big, we should get some sleep. We’re almost there, babe. Just one more interview.
Oaken: I have to say, I’m impressed. My office screens a lot of applications for high-risk adoptions. You’re one of the first we’ve had so few issues clearing.
Aurora: We keep a tight ship, Miss Moss. My dads taught me well.
Opal: What do you mean by so few issues, though? Did something pop up in your checks?
Oaken: Yes, actually. There’s a three year gap in which neither of you can be accounted for. I understand your work deals with classified material, Mrs. Crystal, but–
Aurora: But nothing. I can’t tell you where I was for those three years because it’s classified. You’re welcome to call my supervising agent at the time but he’ll just tell you the same thing.
Oaken: We’ve already spoken with Chief Stone, and he backs that up…in as many words as I could get out of the man, but that leaves you unaccounted for.
Opal: I was. It’s…is this really necessary?
Oaken: You have to understand, we deal with at-risk children. We need to be sure that every one of our placements is not only right for the child and adopters, but safe. It’s nothing personal, Mrs. Crystal, this is just procedure–
Opal: I was held in a military facility and experimented on.
Aurora: Opal…
Opal: That’s where I was. I was held in captivity for eight months and spent the next three years recovering in protective custody. That’s why there’s no record of my whereabouts for that time.
Oaken: I…see.
Opal: And everyone involved is serving time for violating the Sixam Accords. Any child is our care is…perfectly safe. Excuse me, I…
Aurora: Does that answer your question?
Oaken: Yes. Yes, and I am sorry to bring it up, but you have to understand–
Aurora: Oh, believe me, we do. Are we done here?
Oaken: We are. My office will call you if any placements become available. Thank you for your time.
*door closes*
Aurora: Unbelievable.
Aurora: She’s gone, babe. It’s okay.
Opal: …can you go get the kids? Please? I need to know that they’re safe.
Aurora: Of course. I’ll be back soon.
Aurora: There they are. Hey, guys!
Dusky: Mommy?
Dawn: What’re you doing here?
Snow: Is your interview over? How’d everything go?
Aurora: Fine, fine. Just thought I’d come and take the rascals off your hands. Thanks for watching them.
Snow: Of course. Call me if you need anything, Aurora. Any of you.
Aurora: We will.
Aurora: Opal, we’re back–Opal? Oh no.
Dawn: Mommy?
Aurora: Guys, can you go play in the yard, please?
Dusk: Why did we even come home if we were just going back outside?
Aurora: Dusk. Please.
Dusk: Ugh, fine. But I get to be Pirate King this time, Dawn!
Dawn: Not if I get there first, you don’t!
Aurora: Opal, I’m coming in. It’s just me.
Aurora: Opal–Opal, hey, hey, come here, it’s okay, you’re okay!
Opal: I can’t–I can’t go back there I can’t do this again Ro I can’t–
Aurora: Shh, shh, it’s okay. It’s over, they’re gone, you’re safe. It’s okay. Come here.
Opal: I’m sorry, I can’t–I just–I can’t even–
Aurora: Shh…shh, it’s okay. You’re okay, starshine. We’re okay.
Aurora: Hey. Hey, look at me.
Aurora: We’re okay. You’re safe.
Opal: I…yeah. Yeah, I. *deep breath* You’re right. I…I’m sorry.
Aurora: Don’t be. What happened?
Opal: Talking about it made me remember, and then I couldn’t stop thinking about it, or what if I’d been fine but they somehow got Dusk, or–
Aurora: They didn’t get him. Dusk is just fine, and you’re okay. It’s over.
Opal: I know, I just…I couldn’t…
Aurora: It’s okay. I’ve got you. Take your time.
Dawn: I’m going inside.
Dusk: Dawn! Mommy said to–
Dawn: Something’s not right, Dusk! I wanna know what.
Dusk: Dawn–ugh, fine! Wait for me.
-
Dawn: …Why would Mama leave her papers out?
Dusk: Mommy never leaves those things out. She doesn’t even let us see them…
Dawn: You wanna?
Dusk: …Yeah.
Dawn/Dusk: Oh…this is bad…
Dusk: Those papers…that’s why Mama was upset, wasn’t it?
Dawn: Uh-huh. The Agency lady must have wanted to see them. …Dusk…what does it mean that Mama was missing for three years?
Dusk: It means they didn’t know where she was, and…
Dawn: She has all those scars…and she gets sick and tired…and…
Dawn: We should talk to Gramma about it. I bet she would–
Dusk: Are you nuts?! We can’t tell anyone we read those! Mommy would be so mad at us! Don’t be stupid!
Dawn: I…guess you’re right.
Dawn: Morning.
Dusk: …
Dawn: Dusk?
Dusk: I’m sorry I called you stupid.
Dawn: Dusky….it’s okay. I forgive you. You want some cereal?
Dusk: …yeah.
Aurora: …hey. Feeling better?
Opal: …yeah. A little. I’m sorry.
Opal: I completely freaked out over nothing. It’s been ten years! I should be over this by now.
Aurora: Hey…they don’t call them panic attacks because they leave if it’s a bad time. Don’t beat yourself up.
Opal: I guess…sorry I put you through that. And the kids…
Aurora: They’re fine. So they had to eat cereal one day instead of eggs, it won’t hurt them. And trust me, they can scream. If anything happened, we’d know.
Aurora: You don’t have to beat yourself up, babe. It’s okay to not be okay.
Opal: I know…I guess I just let it all get to me…we’re a real mess, aren’t we?
Aurora: Heh, yeah. But we’re a mess together. Come ‘ere.
Aurora: No matter what else…we’re together.
That afternoon
*thunder rumbles*
Dusk: Fudge!
Dawn: Okay, loud much?
Dusk: Let’s just go inside, Dawn.
-
Dawn: Mama! You’re feeling better!
Dusk: You are feeling better, right?
Opal: A little bit. I’m sorry if I worried you, sometimes…sometimes it all gets to be too much for me, or I’ll remember something that scares me, and…well, it happens.
Dawn: It’s okay, Mama. Right, Dusky?
Dusk: Right.
-
Opal: So how was school?
Dusk: Oh–they were cleaning the halls today, and Sol took off running to try and slide? It got the one hall that was dirty and fell on his face!
Dawn: He got right back up and did it again, though! Said he’d done it wrong.
Opal: No one stopped him?
Dusk: Nah. Stopping Sol’s like stopping a train. Just get outta the way!
Dusk: But Mrs. Mallow gave us these really long assignments to make up for laughing at him instead, so….
Opal: *laugh* So, pull them open. Let’s see what we can do.
The next day…
*phone buzzing*
Opal: What the…oh, what does she want…
Opal: Miss Moss. No, it’s fine. We’re all ready whenever a placement comes–I’m sorry, what? Say again, please? An emergency–yes, yes, of course. Aurora isn’t here now but I’m here. Of course. Twenty minutes.
Oaken: I’m sorry for the no warning, especially after…well, we were out of options. We literally just got her and all we know is her name because someone translated the characters on her suit.
Opal: What’s her name?
Oaken: Comet. She’s perfectly healthy, seems to be about three, but she doesn’t speak a word of Simlish.
Oaken: She won’t respond to her own name because she doesn’t know how we say it.
Opal: Comet. That’s…Yashi.
Comet: Miiksha?
Opal: …oh…oh, honey, I…
Oaken: Mrs. Crystal, I have to go. I’m sorry to drop her and run but–
Opal: It’s okay. We’ll think of something.
Comet: Miiksha!! Miiksha!!
Opal: I know, baby, I know…let me call mine and we’ll see what we can do…
An hour later…
Opal: Finally cried herself to sleep. Poor thing…
Opal: …I hope you won’t remember this feeling, sweetheart.
Opal: Thanks for coming so soon. I wasn’t sure what else to do.
Rainbow: There is not much else that can be done. Her mother’s ship crashed in the wilds outside of Gingerbrook. No one has come to claim the body, let alone a child survivor.
Rainbow: Kiitra, I must know: can you keep her.
Opal: That was always the plan, but…
Rainbow: But?
Opal: Let’s…sit down first.
Rainbow: Why do you hesitate? You and Aurora Rose were looking to adopt, and here a Sixam child falls into your lap!
Opal: She’s not ours, Mom. She might–there could be someone out there looking for her.
Opal: Of course she can stay here while we find them, but it’s not…*sigh* I don’t know if it’s permanent yet.
Rainbow: And if there is no one? What then?
Opal: Then we…I don’t know. I’ll talk to Aurora and we file the paperwork, I guess.
Rainbow: There is no guessing, kiitra. Either she is yours or she is not. Do not make her suffer while you decide.
Opal: I don’t want to! I just don’t know if we’re the right fit to raise a traumatized kid, Mom. Hell, I had a panic attack just two days ago! Maybe we’re not ready.
Rainbow: Life will not wait for you to be “ready”, kiitra. You must decide. And soon.
Opal: I know. *thump* You have contacts back on Sixam, right? Can you ask them? See if anyone knows who she is or where she’s from?
Rainbow: I will ask, but if her mother had her in the ship? Kiitra, there is a very good chance you are all she has.
Aurora: I’m back–oh, hey. It’s quiet as a tomb in here. Did something happen?
Opal: Moss dropped off a little girl this afternoon.
Aurora: Dropped off? Like, what, like a stork?
Opal: *snort* Pretty much exactly that. She’s a Sixamite, and her guardian died in a ship crash three days ago/
Aurora: Oh. Oh, wow, that’s…the poor thing. Is she settled in?
Opal: Been settled all night. She must have been exhausted, Ro.
Aurora: That’s cool. I can meet her in the morning….what’s that face?
Opal: I asked Mom to look into if she had any family back on Sixam. We…might not keep her.
Aurora: Opal….
Opal: I know, I’m sorry I made that call without you, but if there’s someone looking for her back home, someone who misses her and loves her, I couldn’t just–
Aurora: Hey, no, I get it! I’m glad you did!
Aurora: It’s just…wow.
Opal: It’s a lot, and it was faster than we thought it’d be.
Aurora: They don’t call them emergency placements for nothing, I guess.
Opal: Let’s just…take it one day at a time, right? See how she does, what we can do….do what’s right for her.
Aurora: Of course. I hope what’s right for her is us, though.
Opal: …and if it’s not?
Aurora: …If we’re not right for her, we’ll find someone who is. We’ll do the right thing for her. That much I know we can do.
Aurora: Well, hello there little one!
Comet: Doin?
Aurora: Doin…that’s who, right? I’m Ro. And you’re…
Comet: Yashi!
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