<It's okay,> she says—or causes her brother to think, one of those.
—and then she suddenly lets go of everyone, falling to the ground and gasping for air. She looks around, and suddenly there's a glowing—hole?—beneath her brother and herself, and they fall, fall through it—
He clings tightly to her, whimpering.
-And suddenly they're in a small, dark place. They can hear crickets in the distance, and the sounds of a quiet suburban neighbourhood at night.
She remains on the ground, hugging herself.
He continues clinging. He's now sobbing a little.
They appear to be in a garden shed. In the dark, they (or at least Levi) can faintly make out various tools and gardening supplies. A ride on mower is parked in there, which Levi finds very sinister.
She soon stops shivering and merely stays there, extremely still.
For his part, Levi mutely wonders where they are.
His sister is quiet.
Eventually, he cries himself to sleep, wrapping his tail around his sister for comfort.
The next morning, the little boy who lives in the house which the shed belongs to is asked to fetch something from it by his mother. He complies happily.
<Someone is coming,> she says when she sees this.
He jerks awake. He looks toward the door, dread on his features.
<Friendly,> she clarifies.
He's still a little wary.
The little boy opens the door.
And is greeted by the sight of what appears to be a small angel child and a human-lizard hybrid. He jumps back a bit, gasps, and takes a puff from an inhaler.
"Um, hi."
<Hello,> the boy thinks.
"Uh, what are you doing in our shed?"
<Waiting for you.>
He seems flattered. "But why would you be waiting for me?"
<Because you were coming,> she explains reasonably.
"Okay. I'm going to get my mummy the trowel and come back, okay?"
<Yes.>
He runs back to the house with the trowel.
Levi gives his sister a puzzled look.
Now he understands everything that was said. Funny how that works.
"Back! So, who are you?"
<I am the Morrígan. My brother does not have a name yet.>
"Hello, the Morrígan. Isn't he a bit big not to have a name? My mums say they named me before they took me home from the hospital."
<We did not exist before yesterday.>
"You're babies?"
She remains silent.
"Happy birthday!"
<We were not born.>
"But everyone is born! Otherwise you wouldn't be alive."
<We weren't.>
"You're not alive? Are you an angel? If you are, why does your brother not have wings? You're real pretty by the way."
<We are alive. We come from large glass tubes.>
"That's cool. My mums say I came from a test tube, too. Not sure how big it was."
<Ours was bigger.>
"I believe you. Are you guys Miracles?"
<No.>
"But do you have powers?"
<I am talking in your head.>
"Cool!" He turns to Levi. "What about you?"
He looks at him quizzically.
Translation. Words.
"Um, water, I do water."
"That's very interesting. Maybe we should get you a name?"
<His name will be Levi.>
He nods approvingly.
"That's a pretty name. Why?"
<We are made out of monsters. The monster he is made out of is called Leviathan.>
"Like Kaiju?"
<Yes.>
One of Maurice's mothers calls out for him.
"I've got to go, guys. Want me to bring back some food?"
<I do not need sustenance.>
"Does that mean you're not hungry?"
<It means I do not need to eat.>
"Would you like to, though?"
<No. But he would.>
"Okay, Levi."
He looks appreciative.
Maurice runs back inside his house, where his mother, a pleasantly plump, mousy haired woman is waiting.
"You looking forward to the boat trip tomorrow, honey?"
"Yeah."
He is, but he's also worried about the weird kids in the garden shed. Movies tell him things like that need to be secret for the first two acts.
The Morrígan informs her brother of these happenings.
"What should we do?"
<Wait.>
"Why isn't he telling the lady?"
<I do not know.>
"What is 'mum'?"
<It is a person who takes care of another person since they start existing.>
"Do we have one?"
<No.>
"...Can we get one?"
<Maybe.>
"Should we go outside?"
<It will upset them.>
"Who?"
<The child who is going to bring us food and his moms.>
"Why?"
<Because we are strange and unexpected.>
"So what do we do now?"
<Wait.>
He tries napping again.
And she waits.
"Hi!" He's brought half a loaf of bread and some peanut butter.
She will not eat it, but she will nudge her brother awake.
He devours it gratefully.
Maurice wont hold a baby's table manners against him.
"I'm going on a sailing ship tomorrow!"
The Morrígan does not react.
"Sailing ship?"
She bounces him the concept.
"Oh."
"Are you two going to be okay while I'm gone?"
<Yes.>
"It'll be for two sleeps."
<I know.>
"We we get back, we can play all day. I could paint you both!"
She does not react to this.
Levi makes an expectant sound.
She continues to not react.
"I like your wings." He looks at Levi. "And your tail."
Levi smiles.
"Could I touch your wings?"
<You may.>
He does.
They are very soft and fluffy.
"Oooh. Thank you. I have to go again. If I don't see you tonight, I'll be back in a couple of days. You can come inside if you like when we leave."
They do not see him again that day.
<We're going after him.>
"He said he would be back," says Levi, enjoying the couch and the TV.
<Yes. We're still going after him.>
"Why?"
<Because.>
The TV turns off and Levi finds himself suddenly floating.
"Put me down!"
<When we arrive there.>
The door opens and they zoom off into the distance.
"Where are we going?"
<To their boat.>
"But Maurice wants us to be a secret."
<So we hide.>
"Can't we hide back at the house? It has food. And TV. And showers. And toys."
<The boat has that too.>
"Are you lying?"
<Maybe no TV.>
"Why do we even need to be there?"
<To be with Maurice.>
"Are you worried about him?"
<No.>
"Then whyyyyyyy?"
<Why do you not want to?>
He humphs. "Because Maurice will be back soon anyway and his house is nice. And he wants us to be a secret, and boats do not have much room for secrets."
<You have never seen a boat.>
And there's the ocean.
"Oooh. Drop me in there."
Drop.
"Wheeee...." Splash!
Ocean is fun.
She can keep track of him and if he dawdles too much she'll drag him along.
He's swimming at speeds far outpacing any other animal.
She can keep track, and tug him this way or that towards the boat.
He is also generating enormous waves with his powers. And now suddenly there are three of him.
Yes she knew this would happen. Nudge nudge.
On the boat, Maurice's mothers are fishing. Meanwhile, Maurice is trying to spot mer.
Eventually they're close enough that the Morrígan can land on the boat, not in Maurice's moms' eyesight but in his.
He sputters a bit in surprise, before taking a puff from his inhaler.
"What are you doing here?" he whispers.
<Standing.>
"Don't be silly. You need to be a secret! Did something happen at the house?"
<No.>
"Then why did you come here?"
<Because then no one is separate.>
He sighs. "Where is Levi?"
<In the water.>
Despite himself, Maurice grins. "Does he breathe underwater?"
<Yes.>
"Um, aren't you going to get sunburnt standing there in your..." he decides to use Siobhan's word for it, "all together? My mums make me put sunscreen on when I am."
<I do not get sunburnt.>
"Oh, that's cool. You alright?"
<Yes.>
"But you should hide before my mums see you."
<I can see the future. They will not see me.>
"What if they come over here?"
<I will be gone before they come.>
"Gone where?"
<Underwater.>
"You can breathe underwater, too?"
<I do not need to breathe.>
"I wish I was like you and Levi."
<I do not have human senses.>
"What?"
<I am blind and deaf and cannot sense things I touch or smell or taste things.>
He is very sad to hear it. Tears are welling in his eyes, even. "I'm sorry."
<I am not impaired by this.>
"I'm confused."
<I can sense the future and the past and that is sufficient.>
"So you know what this feels like?" Hug!
She does not move. <In a certain way, yes.>
"What would happen if you ate an ice-cream?"
<It would be eaten.>
"It would still be cool being all pretty and having wings and seeing the future and not getting sunburnt in hurty places."
<You are not the type of person who would like it.>
"Is Levi like you?"
<No.>
"But what about the non seeing and hearing stuff? I don't like sunburn."
<He can see and hear.>
"But does he get sunburn and stuff?"
<No.>
"Then you're both still cooler."
<Perhaps you would enjoy being like my brother.>
"Yeah. Although I like angel wings best."
<They are merely decorative.>
"But they're pretty."
There is a mental impression that is almost like a shrug.
"Is there some way you could make me like you and Levi?"
<No. We were built this way.>
He looks disappointed for a sec, but perks up. "That's okay. Tell me if you think of something."
<I will.>
"Cause the only way you two could be cooler is if you were rainbow."
No response.
The three Levis' heads pop from out of the water. "I made friends!" he announces.
A few dozen strange-looking grey children surface, chattering excitedly.
"What's that Maurice?" calls out Mary.
"I think my mums are coming!"
Before he even says that the Morrígan is gone and has dragged the other children underwater.
Mary and Sibohan do indeed walk over. "You sounded like you were talking to someone, love."
"There were some mer kids!" That is technically the truth.
The mer kids are allowed up if they so desire.
At the moment they are poking and prodding the strange new child. While most of them have dolphin like flukes, one has legs.
She will allow them.
The legged child is particularly proddy.
...okay that is enough prodding please step away from the angel child.
He is surprised to find himself unable to prod. He decides to go up and talk to the people on the boat. Maybe they'll know about the lizard monster and the angel.
Does he actually speak English? Or does anyone on that boat speak mer?
He can speak English, for he is in fact half human.
Then he will also find himself unable to go up there.
He squeaks in protest.
<Maurice says we should be secret.>
The boy raises a questioning eyebrow. Aside from the weird voice inside of his head that sounds like his own thoughts, he does not know who this Maurice person is.
<The boy on the boat,> she clarifies.
"Who are you?" the boys says in mer.
<I am the Morrígan.>
"What's that?"
<My name.>
"But what are you?"
<The Morrígan.>
He rolls his eyes. "And what is that?"
<Me.>
He looks at Levi. "Is she dumb?"
Levi shrugs.
And now Michael is in a suddenly-appearing underwater whirlpool. My, what a surprisingly coincidental happenstance.
"Why do you need to be secret?"
<Because Maurice prefers it.>
"...Why?"
<I do not know.>
"See, that's better than being all dumb about questions. Are you two Miracles?"
More whirlpooling. <No.>
"THEN WHAT ARE YOU?"
<I am the Morrígan.>
"What does that mean?" he says wearily.
<It is what I am.>
An idea strikes him. "How are you different from me?"
<I am not human nor mer.>
Hmm, he decides to pursue this further. "Where did you come from?"
<Another world.>
"Are you and the other one the same kind of thing?"
<That depends on what you mean by 'kind of thing.'>
He tries to find the appropriate mer word. "Species?"
<No.>
"How is the lizard one different from you?"
<He was created from different parts.>
"Of the same thing, or two different things?"
<Two different things.>
"Hmm, did a scientist make you? And what were the things?"
<Yes. The things were a parahuman and a giant monster.>
"What is a parahuman?"
<A superpowered human from another world.>
"Oh."
Trying to get info out of this girl is exhausting.
This girl is not in the business of being informative to random grey children. She regards him coolly.
"Wanna get fish?"
Levi has had fish, they are squirmy and tasty.
<I do not need to eat.>
"But it's also fun."
She telekinetically fetches a fish passing by and brings it to Michael. <Not very much.>
He starts gnawing at it. "But eating is fun, too."
<It is not.>
"Yes it is!"
Mental impression of a shrug.
"Then let's fight!" He growls.
<I'll win.>
"Not without your stupid cheaty powers."
<Can you remove your enhanced strength and agility and ability to breathe underwater?>
"Those are just parts of my body!"
<They are no different than my powers.>
"But you can breathe underwater too!"
<I do not need to breathe.>
"Then let's fight!"
<I can see the future. I will win.>
He crosses his arms. "I don't believe you."
She mimics him exactly and at the same time he says these things.
"Still don't."
<Then try to fight me, and I will not use telekinesis, and I will win.>
He attacks!
She can predict his movements and dodge all of them.
He is going to claim it doesn't count if she just dodges.
Then she will take exactly the necessary actions to immobilize him completely.
"Okay, okay you win."
She releases him.
"See, now I know for sure."
<I always win.>
He nods, this is a healthy attitude to have.
<Maurice's moms are gone,> she informs her brother.
"What?"
<They are no longer around Maurice, we do not need to be secretive.>
"Should we go say hello?"
<Yes.>
"Can you lift us onto the boat?"
She does.
"Wheee!"
"Don't be so loud, you two."
<Whee.>
He giggles. "Were those mer down there?"
<Yes.>
"Were they pretty?"
<You would find them so.>
"I wanna see them."
So she modulates her song in order to inform the mer of this.
A dozen mer children surface. Maurice is having happiness spasms.
"Um, I don't want to be rude, but could you two go underwater so I can show my mums?"
She goes underwater and pulls her brother with.
"Mums, mermaids!"
There is much fussing and photo taking. They are sensible enough not to offer fish.
She will patiently wait.
Levi will wait less patiently.
And if that half-mer boy that speaks English starts thinking about talking about them she'll pull him under.
"So, is that boy your brother or something?" says a suddenly underwater Michael.
<Yes.>
"The brother or the something?"
<Yes.>
He remembers the protocol. "Is he your brother?"
<Yes.>
Levi is surprised by this. Maurice is nice and all, but he doesn't remember him in the tubes.
She does not elaborate.
"Wait, if he's your brother, how come his mums don't know about you?"
<They do not know he is our brother yet.>
"How does that work?"
<We will adopt him.>
"Won't his mums mind?"
<No.>
"Isn't it more like they will adopt you?"
<No.>
Levi seems disappointed.
She seems impassive.
"How long have you known him?"
<Two days.>
"That's pretty quick to decide someone's family."
<I can see the future.>
"Oh. Can you tell me mine?"
<You will swim a lot.>
"I know that! Tell me something important!"
<Then it will change.>
"Okay, tell me something bad I should avoid."
<You should go to the beach soon.>
"Why?"
<You will meet friends.>
"Ooh. Are you gonna come?"
<Yes.>
He smiles. "Should be fun."
<You will find it so.>
On the boat, Maurice is begging to be allowed to go swimming with the mer-children.
Perhaps she can nudge one of his moms into being more receptive to the idea.
Letting their son swim in the middle of the ocean with strange sea children is not likely.
She sees that she is unlikely to nudge them further without upsetting Maurice and decides to leave it.
Also, the weather is starting to turn bad.
As she'd expected. Which means the Thing Doers will be arriving soon.
"Ah, are you two going to be alright?"
<Yes.>
"You can come back with us if you want, I think there's going to be a storm."
<We will stay with Maurice.>
"Um, okay." He and his tribe mates swim away.
And she waits.
As the weather gets worse and worst, she might notice that Maurice and his mothers are no longer on their boat.
No of course not she noticed they'd have left long before and is already dragging her brother towards the island. They should arrive about two minutes after Maurice and his mums.
Maurice is still a little shaken by the rescue, and a little in awe of their rescuer, so he decides to be truthful. "Mums, there's something I should tell you..."
Oh look here's an angel child and her lizard brother.
Maurice's mothers are...surprised to say the least.
Mary shrieks, Sibohan just leaps back in surprise.
<Hello,> the angel child says in their head.
Levi waves. "Hi."
"Who-who are you?" asks Mary.
<I am the Morrígan. This is my brother Levi.>
"They were born a few days ago and now they live in our shed."
"I see..." says Sibohan.
Mental impression of agreement.
"Are you two Miracles?" asks Mary.
<We are not.>
"...What are you then?"
<We are from another world.>
"They're really cool. They don't even get sunburnt."
He is ignored for the time being. "Why are you here?"
<We are adopting Maurice. He is our new brother.>
The mothers stare at her.
"What?" says Mary.
"Um, I already have parents, Morri."
<I said brother not son.>
"Oh, that makes more sense."
"Excuse me, what's this all about?" asks Mary sternly.
<Maurice is our new brother,> she repeats.
"You aren't explaining yourselves!"
<We are the Morrígan and Levi. We come from another world. Maurice is now our brother.>
Siobhan frowns. "And why have you decided our son is your brother?"
<It is self-evident.>
"Not from our point of view!"
Mental impression of a shrug.
"I don't mind being your brother. Wanna come explore?"
He starts running towards the greenery.
"Maurice, wait!"
She follows him.
So does Levi! He leaves a trail of water behind him.
"It's really pretty, isn't it?"
<You would find it so.>
"I do find it so!"
And suddenly a tiger is bursting out from the trees! On its back is a small, naked, glowing child.
"Who are you? What are you doing here?"
<I am the Morrígan, and these are my brothers Maurice and Levi. We are admiring the greenery.>
Maurice is scrambling backwards from the tiger and puffing on his inhaler.
"...Does nobody else worry about sunscreen?"
"What? And what's that thing you're holding?"
<That is an inhaler. He needs it because of his lung condition. You have a friend who can help him.>
"What friend?"
<His name is Evan.>
"Evan? He's my brother."
<Yes.>
"So, how can he help?"
<He will know.>
He looks at Maurice and Levi. "Do you know what she's 'talking' about?"
He shrugs.
"Not really."
She remains silent.
"Could I pet the tiger?"
"...You may."
While Maurice pets the tiger, Levi asks his sister a question. "Why do some people have those pants things and others don't?"
<Social reasons I do not care about.>
"Oh, so they do come off?"
<Yes.>
"That's good."
"Do you want to ride Squishy?"
Maurice is on the tiger's back before he can even answer.
She will follow him.
Levi speeds alongside them.
And Morri is tackle hugged by another undressed glowing child. "Birdy girl, birdy girl, birdy girl!"
Correction: she is attemptedly tackle-hugged. She can still see the future and still has extremely powerful and versatile teekay. Moira stays a healthy distance from her.
"BIIIIIRDY!"
<I am the Morrígan.>
"Chirp chirp."
"Uh, hi, Moira. Guys, this is my sister."
"Hi, Moira."
<These are my brothers Maurice and Levi.>
She looks at the two boys. "Why is that one a lizard?"
<He was born that way.>
"Okay. Can I hug you?"
<No.>
"But-but-birdy!"
"She really likes birds."
"I am the Queen of Birdies."
<I am not a bird.>
"It's the wings."
<I am aware. I am also aware that typically birds only have two wings. I have more. Therefore I am not a bird.>
"You do kinda look like a bird."
<You are mistaken.>
"Nuh uh, these things are sub-jec-tive."
Now Maurice is upside down. <You are mistaken,> she repeats.
He giggles. "You're funny."
She puts him on the tiger again. <You are correct.>
"So you said Martin's brother can help my lungs?"
<Yes.>
"How?"
<He will turn you into a Miracle.>
"You really mean it?"
<Yes.>
Annnnnd now he's jumping up and down in excitement.
"Um, how's Evan going to do that?"
<You should ask him.>
"We will, on one condition."
<You will regardless of whether I let you hug me or not.>
"You think so?"
<I can see the future.>
"I will never give in!"
<You will still not prevent Maurice from becoming a Miracle because of it.>
"That would be kinda mean."
"You can hug me."
"...Fine." Hug ensues.
That is satisfactory.
"Should we go find Evan?"
<Yes.>
He dismounts from the tiger. "Mind if I speed you guys there?"
<No.>
He Eskimo kisses the tiger. "I'll be back soon, Squishy."
And they're on the beach again.
Evan is swimming. There appears to be a grey boy playing with him.
That would be the half-mer.
"Hey, Evan! Weird kids! Wait, who's that?"
"His name's Seal, says he's half mermaid." He turns to the other boy. "Are those the kids you were telling me about?"
Seal pouts. "Half-mer! My mother's the mermaid! And yes, don't ask the girl anything, she'll just answer dumbly and spin you or something."
<Hello.>
"He wants you turn this boy into a Miracle."
Maurice grins and waves.
"Um, that'd be cool, I guess, but how would I do that?"
What's that? That looks like Evan having a stroke of inspiration.
"Wait, idea, idea, idea!"
He runs out of the water, Seal following curiously behind him.
"Do you have the virus inside you?" he asks Maurice.
"Yeah, it's why I gotta be extra careful with my asthma."
"Then follow me!" He starts racing towards the mountain.
She follows them, too. And if Levi doesn't come she drags him with.
He leads them all through the jungle, to an enormous staircase set into the side of the mountain.
"Maybe someone should carry Maurice?"
<I can do that.>
And now Maurice is floating.
Much giggling.
At the top of the staircase is a large silver door with an infinity symbol on it. Evan, still dripping wet from the sea, steps onto a grey square in front of the door, which proceedes to open.
"Come on in."
They do.
They enter into a large lobby that wouldn't look out of place in a grand hotel, mainly because it was copied from one. Evan leads them down many strange hallways, until they eventually wind up in a laboratory of some sort. In it, what looks like Martin's twin is working on something.
"Hey, Evan-what the Hell?"
<Hello. I am the Morrígan. These are my brothers Maurice and Levi.>
He looks at Seal. "Is that your brother, too?"
<No.>
"I'm Seal, I'm half-mer."
"Cool. So what are you doing here?"
<Evan will turn my brother into a Miracle.>
"...How? And are you two Miracles?"
<We are not. Evan will know what to do.>
"Then what are you?"
<Aliens.>
"But your brother's human?"
<Yes.>
"How does that work?"
<We adopted him.>
"...Okay."
"Quick, out of the way before the idea goes away."
He shoves Martin's twin out of the way, and proceeds to make some machines mix some chemicals.
All according to plan.
Maurice seems nervous. "What's going to happen, Morri?"
<You will be very sick for a while and then be a Miracle.>
"Do you know what my Miracle will be?"
<No. I cannot see that far.>
"Then how do you know it'll be okay?"
<Because I understand Evan's power.>
"Will you stay with me while I'm sick?"
<Yes.>
And Evan's done. He hands Maurice a beaker full of something pale blue.
"Drink this!"
He does so. Suddenly he's everywhere, in all senses of the word, he can do anything, know everything-and now he's just the same old Maurice again.
"That felt tingly."
<You will be cured,> she announces.
"I don't feel sick at all."
<I know.>
"Did I skip that?"
<No.>
"Oh."
"Do you guys have parents?"
<He does. Levi and I do not.>
"But you said you were brothers."
<We adopted him.>
"Then shouldn't you share parents?"
<No.>
"Poor orphans."
<We are not orphans.>
"But you don't have parents."
<We never had parents. So they did not die. So we are not orphans.>
"Still sounds orphan ish. Maybe aphan?"
<No.>
"I think it's apt."
<You are mistaken.>
Seal suddenly makes his face lose all expression. "I am the Morrigan. You are mistaken."
Now Michael is upside down and being shaken.
As a child who lives underwater and regularly tussles with children larger and stronger than him, Michael is not entirely unfamiliar with this. "I am the Morrigan. I will hold you upside down now. I am the Morrigan."
And now he's spinning, much faster than he ever has. Still upside down.
When he's dropped, he's looking very woozy, and actually grinning. "At least I have sensible pants ideas. I am Morrígan." Too dizzy to talk now.
And he's upside down again.
He just looks at her and giggles. It's a strange, musical sound.
"I am the Morrígan, I will hang you upside you down over and over."
And now Stan is upside down again and they're both being shaken from side to side. Occasionally hitting their heads in ways that will conveniently not cause any brain damage.
Basically invulnerable and immune to motion sickness.
Michael does not like being hit in the head.
The remaining children take up their sword. Aside from Maurice who is telling them to stop being mean to his little sister.
Fine.
She screams.
In their heads.
It is exactly the most unpleasant thing any of them has ever heard in their lives.
The children clasp their hands over their ears and yell. Moira and Evan even fall to the floor.
"What just happened?"
She stops.
<I made them stop being mistaken.>
"She-she, screamed."
"But it was inside us."
<Now you will no longer be mistaken.>
"You're mean, Birdy!"
<You are mistaken.>
"We just gave your brother the Miracle! Aren't you even going to say thank you?"
<You would have done it anyway. And you were mistaken.>
"Do you even know what that word means?"
<Yes. It means she held a belief that was in conflict with reality.>
Maurice takes Morri's hand. "Morri, I know they were being mean, but I still think we should say thank you for making me a Miracle."
<'Thank you for making Maurice a Miracle',> she sends with a perfect mental impression of Maurice himself.
"Um, how long until I feel sick?"
"The books says a few hours."
He looks to Morri for confirmation.
Mental impression of a nod.
"Well, that means we have hours to play."
<Yes.>
Despite his horrible bird sister, the children can't help but feel fond of the little baseline. They show him the time room.
...the time room is unsettling. She does not join them in there.
Levi pocks his tongue out at her from the time room.
She is impassive and merely waits for them to decide to leave.
He leads the children in some light teasing for a bit.
Are they going to be mistaken again?
Can she actually affect them in the room?
Of course she can, they're slower than she is, not faster.
Damn. Anyway, onwards to kitchen, where food is devoured. Then they show Maurice the garden, where prettiness is observed!
Relative prettiness, sure.
Levi seems to be more popular with the other kids.
As it was seen, so it shall be.
Martin seems to be trying, though. "I'm sorry for making fun of you earlier. I know what that's like."
<I do not care.>
"Okay then. So, you see the future?"
<Yes.>
"How far?"
<A few hours. It depends on what I'm looking at.>
"Are people harder than rocks?"
<Yes.>
"That makes sense. What's your world like?"
<Bad to live in.>
"Why?"
<More evil people with powers, worse giant monsters.>
"I'm glad you and your brothers are safe now. How'd you get here, anyway?"
<I have dimensional powers. I took us here.>
"Cool! Could you show us without sending yourself somewhere else?"
<No. My portals are impossible to look through.>
"Can you control where they go?"
<Sometimes.>
"...Have you used them much?"
<No.>
"You remind me of my cats."
She is silent.
"Yep, definitely a Rupert."
Still silent.
"I like your name."
<It was given by our creator.>
"What were they like?"
<Obsessed.>
"Think he'd be proud?"
<I do not know.>
"My mummy would probably want to study you and stuff."
<For what purpose?>
"To understand you."
<How will she do this?>
"I think she'd want samples of your blood and your DNA, maybe run some scans on your brain and x-rays."
<She will be bewildered.>
"That's science for ya."
<I could tell her what she will find.>
"What would she find?"
<She will not do this in the next few hours so I do not yet know.>
"Also, she might not take your word for it."
<That is unfortunate.>
"Mummy's nice, though, she won't do anything hurty to you."
<That is for me to determine.>
"How'd you meet Maurice?"
<We appeared in his house when we came to this world.>
"Why'd you decide he was your brother?"
<Because he is.>
"You should work on answering people's questions."
<I answer the questions I want answered.>
"But if you answered questions a little better, you wouldn't be asked so many."
<Nevertheless.>
"So, what powers do you have?"
<Telekinesis, clairvoyance, pocket dimensions, interdimensional travel, the psychic song.>
"Can you actually talk?"
<Yes.>
"Could I hear it?"
<Yes.>
"No, I mean, could you say something now?"
<I could.>
"Would you please do so?"
<No.>
"Aww, why not?"
<I prefer not to.>
Maurice strolls up to them. "What's wrong with talking?"
<I prefer not to.>
"Aww, you don't think we'll not like your voice, do you?"
<I do not have expectations about whether you will like the sound of my voice.>
"It would be pretty."
She is silent.
"Let's play a game."
She will follow them.
"Tag, you're it!"
This seems like a pointless sort of game but then all games are pointless to the telekinetic clairvoyant child.
She tags Seal.
He tags Maurice!
...Who is having a hard time tagging anyone because they are all superhuman and he is not.
She can make him fly.
"Whee!"
Now he can compete with the other kids. She finds the optimal velocity for Maurice to have fun.
He is tagged a few times.
...only when it would amuse her brothers. She can see the future after all.
Eventually, Maurice starts looking a bit unwell.
"Guys, I don't feel so good..."
<It is starting.>
"Um, what do we do?"
<He should rest.>
"Take him to my bedroom."
She does.
"What do we do now?"
<Wait.>
"Manifesting hurts. He'll need painkillers, water...a bedpan or something."
She can see the future. She can find these things.
"What about his parents? Or our mum?"
<He will be happy if his mothers are fetched.>
"...But will they be happy?"
<I do not care.>
"Well, if you care about your brother, you should."
<I care about their happiness as it affects his. They will be happier if he is healthy and lives forever and so will he.>
"But they might be afraid of you now."
<It will pass.>
"I think Evan's right."
Indifference.
"Caring is what people do."
<It is.>
"Oh, don't be silly."
More indifference.
"I thought so."
<Your conclusions are mistaken.>
"That must be your favourite telepathic word shape."
<Would you prefer me to use a different word shape to inform you you are drawing incorrect conclusions from the data? This would not happen if you stopped trying to model me the way you are doing.>
"You do act like my sister. Except quiet."
<I do not know your sister. That may perhaps be the case.>
Zaneta bursts into the room. "What have you done to this boy?"
<He will become a Miracle and live forever,> says psychic angel child into Zaneta's brain.
"...The creepy angel thing made me. Don't make her angry."
She looks at Evan, then at the angel and the lizard child. "What."
<He is mistaken. I requested that he do it. Then I made him think of a way to do it. Then he did it.>
"Are you really going to believer her? She doesn't blink!"
"Levi's alright, though."
She looks at Michael. "And who are you?"
"Seal. My mama's a mermaid if you're going to ask."
She notices how dreadfully still the angel child is. "Neither of you are actually human, are you?"
"Nope. Morri knows more, but she's kinda being silly right now."
<Half of our structure is alien human, the other half is alien monster.>
"They're from another world, it's weird."
<I can see the future,> she supplies.
Maurice's mothers run into the room, looking deeply worried. This does not improve when they see their son.
"What have you done to him?" shouts Mary.
<He is turning into a Miracle. He will live forever.>
"He's Manifesting?" Sibohan sounds like she's on the brink of tears.
<Yes.>
They both break down weeping, hugging their son.
"Little girl, do you realise what you've done?"
<Saved his life.>
"Manifestation is dangerous."
<Not when Evan does it.>
She turns to Evan. "Is that true?"
"I don't know, terrifying but boring bird thing thought of it!"
<Because I saw the future and it was true.>
Zaneta decides to go for a more diplomatic approach. She bends down, looking Morri right in the eye, although she knows this is likely pointless. "Child, you seem to mean well for your brother." Maurice's mothers both glare at Zaneta, but she ignores them for now. "But we need to take him to the hospital, so they can look after him till he's all better. And we need to run some tests on you and Levi. Is that alright?"
<Yes.>
"They really don't like being separated, or she doesn't, anyway."
"You might have to be taken to a separate building for some of the tests. Is that something you can cope with?"
<Yes.>
"Now?"
<Yes.>
She picks up Maurice very gently. "I'll be back for you shortly, everything will be fine," she tells Maurice's mothers.
"So she says," says Mary through the tears, glaring at Morri.
And Zaneta is already at the hospital.
Morri meets Mary's gaze impassively.
"...Oh, what's the point? You didn't offer any explanation on the beach, why should you now?"
"I'm sorry Mrs. Maurice's Mummy. Morri's just...shy."
<You are mistaken.>
"She also likes saying that."
<I say this when it is true.>
"Just so you know, Morri does not like people being Mistaken, and will hang them upside down. She is just trying to help."
That is mostly correct, yes.
"She likes me, and Maurice, and being near me and Maurice, and floating, and singing, and not being Mistaken."
Also mostly correct.
"Yay, not Mistaken!"
<Indeed not.>
"She uses big words because she's older."
<I do not use words.>
"Oh. So I know more big words!"
<Yes.>
He does not know what dancing is, but he does so.
Maurice's mothers just look on in bafflement.
"I wouldn't try getting anything out of her. She's basically a cat with wings that doesn't like ear scratches. I assume, anyway."
That is correct.
Zaneta returns. "Are you two ready now?"
<Yes.>
"Can you keep up with me?"
<Yes.>
Levi holds out his arms.
"Do you want me to carry you?"
"Yes."
"Okay then." She picks him up, and zips off.
And she locks herself to them and goes with.
Then she'll find herself in what looks like a waiting room in a very modern hospital. There are doctors and nurses around, who regard them with less bafflement than you might expect.
"Do you want to see Maurice before we start the tests?"
<Yes.>
She leads them both to Maurice. He's lying unconscious in a hospital bed, hooked up to some monitoring equiptment.
"Why are there tubes in him?"
"Those are to make sure he has enough water while he's resting, and so he can get medicine that'll keep him from hurting so much."
<I can keep him asleep until it's over.>
"We'll have to discuss that with his mothers. I'm afraid you frightened them very badly."
<I know.>
"Do you understand why?"
<Yes.>
"If this happened again, would you do anything differently?"
<No.>
"You wouldn't maybe try to explain things a little better to Maurice's mothers?"
<No.>
"But it would've meant they were less distressed."
<Yes.>
"Do you understand why that might be considered more desirable?"
<Yes.>
"Then why not take that onboard in future?"
<Because I do not care.>
"Most would not consider that an excuse, child."
Indifference.
"This discussion is not over."
<I am aware.>
"I don't intend to sound mean, but this is important, for you and Maurice. You don't want to make your brother unhappy, do you?"
<No.>
"Then consider in future that caring, or at least doing a decent imitation of caring, for others might maximise his chances of happiness."
<I can see the future. He will be upset that I do not care about his mothers, but he will prefer knowing this is true to being lied to and thus believing otherwise. I will minimize the distress of others when this makes my brothers happy. By the time Maurice wakes up there is only a small chance this will still be a problem.>
"...Good girl."
"At least you're quiet."
<I do not speak.>
"I was speaking figuratively, little one. Do you understand?"
<Yes.>
What follows is a lot of tests. MRI scans, X-rays, DNA and blood tests, some tentative examinations of their powers....
She is opaque to MRIs and X-ray scans. She has no blood to speak of and her interstitial fluids do not have anything recognizable as DNA.
Her powers are straightforward: she has extremely versatile, extremely powerful, extremely granular telekinesis; she can see a few hours into the future with very precise detail but mostly sticks to probability distributions; and she has an always-on psychic "sound" which she can modulate to cause people to think certain things and uses to communicate. She is deaf and blind but her future sight is a good enough substitute. If she uses her first two powers too much she is temporarily disabled—or so she informs them after some prodding, as she refuses to demonstrate the effect.
Levi is physiologically very similar to his sister. However, he seems to have all the usual human senses, in addition to his ability to perceive water for about a mile around him. He can manipulate water with a fairly fine degree of precision, and he can accelerate himself to very high velocities, leaving water in his wake. Then there's his ability to duplicate himself when submerged in water.
He can also shapeshift.
"What?"
She makes him learn how.
And now he's all human looking and Caucasian.
He fiddles with his new ears. "What are these for?"
<Hearing.>
"But I could do that before!"
<Your sensory organs work differently than a human's.>
He looks down. "At least that's still normal."
"We should really get you two some clothes."
<Your phenotype is still half human.>
Hers mostly isn't, she is more statue than human, but she does not object to wearing clothes.
"It'll make people more comfortable. Do you consider yourself a girl, incidentally?"
Indifference.
"Will it bother you if people continue doing so?"
<No.>
"How about we go see Maurice again?"
<Please.>
When they get to his room, Maurice's mothers are already there. They eye Morri suspiciously.
She ignores them and watches her brother.
He is asleep. Occasionally he twitches.
"They say there's growths on his back," says Mary, worriedly.
<They will become wings.>
"...What?"
<Maurice is growing wings.>
"Why?"
<Miracle characteristics are partially decided by conscious and subconscious preferences, and they seldom manifest in ways the owner actually objects to. Maurice wanted to have wings.>
"He won't be...I'm sorry, but he won't be like you?"
<Not in the sense you mean, no. He will be himself. With wings.>
"He wants to be like his sister!" exclaims Levi, happily.
"She's modest."
<I believe they would be upset if Maurice was more like me.>
"Why?"
<Because I am too different in a way they do not like.>
"It's-it's hard to explain," adds Siobhan.
<It is not. I do not experience the full spectrum of emotions they do, and I do not care for most things they do. They would prefer if Maurice did.>
"But she loves Maurice!"
<That is correct.>
"And you can be our mums, too!"
"...We'll see."
"She is thinking about it, too. Morri is very smart."
<I believe you would be happier if they were your mothers.>
"And your mothers," he says very firmly.
<Yes.>
"When will Maurice wake up?"
<His awakening is beyond my sight.>
"...What do we do?"
<Wait.>
"Actually, we need to figure out where you'll be living. School, maybe."
<I will not attend school.>
"That remains to be decided."
<I have already decided.>
"Plenty of children your age decide they will not be going to school. That is usually not the case."
<Plenty of children my age are newborns.>
"I imagine being treated as a newborn would not suit you."
<Neither would being treated as a human child.>
"It is still something that must be considered."
<I am not going to attend school.>
"Maurice will be."
<Then I will accompany him. I will not attend.>
She laughs lightly. "I fear that's an academic distinction."
"It would involve a lot of being quiet and sitting still. I'm sure accomodations for floating can be made."
...agreement.
"What's school?"
She pushes the concept into his mind.
"Oh, like you make me learn?"
<But slower.>
"How about I take you back to the island while we sort everything out?"
<No. I will wait for Maurice to wake up.>
"That won't be for several days."
<I will stay here for several days.>
"And what about you, Levi?"
"I want to come with you."
Boy this is not sadness and conflict but it sure does look like it.
"What's wrong, Morri?"
<You and Maurice will be in different places.>
"Not forever."
<I know.>
"I'll visit you and Maurice everyday. It's just I'm not as good at not doing anything as you."
<I will ponder.>
"Ponder what?"
<What I will do.>
He hugs her. "I love you. And I think I'll love Maurice, soon."
She permits this.
"I'm sorry about this. I know what if feels like being away from someone you care about."
<I believe you are mistakenly extrapolating from your own emotions.>
"You are distressed. That's all I need to know."
Agreement.
She takes Levi's hand. "If you need me, child, I can be here in a heartbeat. Or whatever it is that sustains you."
<I understand.>
And the two are gone.
And she watches Maurice.
"You really do love your brother, don't you?" asks Mary.
<That would be the most accurate comparison.>
"You barely know our son. Why him?"
<He makes the mosaic beautiful.>
"What mosaic?"
<Of the future. I see all possible futures. It's beautiful. And the mosaic around him is most beautiful of all.>
Siobhan smiles, wanly. "I'm not sure how I feel about this. I suppose the future would be beautiful with Maurice in it."
<It is most beautiful when he is happy.>
"Can you really make him feel less pain?"
<Yes.>
"Then I hope you're already doing so."
<Yes.>
"Thank you."
<You are welcome.>
Eventually, Maurice's mothers have to eat and sleep. They do so reluctantly.
She doesn't. She watches.
Sometimes they try to make conversation with her. Mostly they tell her about Maurice.
She is not a good conversation partner but she is very interested in Maurice.
"He's an old soul. You know what that means, Morri?" asks Mary.
<Yes.>
"I wonder what his Miracle will be," wonders Siobhann, a little sadly.
<I am afraid that is beyond my sight.>
"Then how'd you know those buds would grow into wings?"
Said buds are well on their way, incidentally. So much so that the hospital is trying to keep Maurice on his side.
<I can see hours, not days into the future. And I can see everything, including his skeletal and muscle structure.>
An idea strikes Siobhann. "You could diagnose illness with a glance, couldn't you?"
<Yes.>
"That could help a lot of people, you know."
<Yes.>
"Maybe we could arrange something with the hospital."
<That is a possibility.>
"Maurice would like that."
<Yes.>
"Why do you think he makes the mosaic beautiful?"
<He makes beautiful things. The mosaic glows with him. It is impossible to explain to one who does not see the mosaic, and I could show you it but you would forget.>
"Must be lonely."
<Not while I have my brothers.>
"Speaking of which, Zaneta called. Levi will be dropping by today. Sure you already knew that."
<I did.>
"He might be bringing some of Zaneta's children. Is that alright?"
<Yes.>
Mary looks at Maurice again. "Do you know if he's dreaming?"
<His brain exhibits patterns typical of REM sleep.>
"...Can you tell what he's dreaming?"
<Not in detail. Only in general terms >
"How general?"
<Themes, feelings, major aspects.>
"Could you tell us what he's dreaming about now?"
<People who are important to him, and exhilarating things.>
"Thank you...do you ever wonder what dreaming would be like?"
<Somewhat.>
"I find it odd your brother sleeps. Does he need to, strictly speaking?"
<He does not.>
"I'm a nurse, you know. You two are medical marvels."
<We are not humans. It is not that unexpected for aliens to be very different.>
"You draw energy from nothing. That's unprecedented. Sure, Miracles get their energy from elsewhere, but they all still eat and breathe."
<We perhaps also draw energy from elsewhere.>
"I recall you mentioning you were half human. That accurate?"
<Yes.>
"How does that...affect you, for lack of a better word?"
<How does being a whole human affect you?>
"Hmm, how would you say you're different from your 'monster parent'?"
<I am sapient.>
She nods. "Clearly."
<The Simurgh is not,> she elaborates.
"Yeah, got that."
Levi. Hug. "Hello, Morri!"
<Hello, little brother. How has your day been?>
He frowns. "I'm as tall as you!"
<And a few seconds younger.>
"Does that make us twins?"
<That is a possible interpretation of it.>
"I killed a dolphin today!"
Maurice's parents grimace.
<Why?>
"Cause they're mean and me and Michael were hungry."
<That makes sense.>
"You should try it sometime."
<Why?>
"Cause' it's fun, and tasty."
<I do not prefer to eat.>
"But it gurgles in your tummy!"
<Yes.>
"How's Maurice?"
<Asleep.>
"Is he going to wake up soon?"
<It will take some days still.>
"Why is his skin getting all rainbows?"
<It is one of his Miracle powers.>
"What's it good for?"
This inspires another less than charitable look from his mothers.
<I do not yet know the full details of his Miracle.>
"I was sort of hoping he'd get a tail."
<It is not impossible he will.>
He claps. "Have you moved at all since yesterday?"
<No.>
"Doesn't that get boring?"
<I do not get bored.>
"Zaneta says you can come stay once Maurice has woken up."
<Yes.>
"Actually," says Mary, "we've been thinking you might be happier near Maurice."
<Yes.>
"Zaneta's been discussing...custody arrangements with us."
<I know.>
"We have a room spare for you two."
<Thank you.>
"You're welcome, I suppose."
"That's almost cute, you know."
<What is?>
"That silence of yours."
"Morri is a cat, Morri is a cat!"
She slowly rotates in place to face Levi.
"See?"
<I am similar to a cat. I am not a cat.>
"Feather cat, then."
That works.
He giggles. "If you're feather-cat, what am I?"
<Lizard.>
He humphs. "You get to be two things."
<A feather-cat is only one thing with two nouns.>
"Well I want to be that!"
<Lizard-boy,> she suggests.
"Lizard boy and feather-cat!"
Agreement.
Mary and Siobhann actually laugh.
Her silence makes them laugh more.
Such is life.
"I'm going to assume you won't be needing a bed?"
<That is correct.>
"Is there anything you'd like?"
Negation.
"Travel light, do we?"
<Yes.>
"Any opinion on decor?"
<No.>
"You?" she asks Levi.
"I like fishes!"
She smiles. "I hope you're content with wallpaper."
<I can keep fish alive.>
"...Not sure what you mean there," says Mary.
<Without water.>
"Wouldn't that be cruel?"
<Fish do not experience suffering.>
"I meant pictures of fish. Real fish are for eats."
<That can also be provided.>
And now they all experience the hallucination that goldfish the size of footballs are swimming around the room.
Suddenly, Levi is a lizard again, and trying to eat the fish.
Well she can use her telekinesis and song to make it seem like he is in fact eating the illusory fish.
"You can just create living things like that?"
<They are merely illusions.>
"So you're tricking your brother?" asks Mary, warily.
<I am enriching his make-believe game.>
"What?" says Levi, mouth full of pretend fish.
She repeats it.
He spits out the imaginary fish. "Michael says I shouldn't let you do stuff like that."
<Like what?>
"Mind controlling me."
Confusion. <I was not mind-controlling you.>
"But you changed the way I thought."
<I did not. All your actions were your own.>
He makes frustrated lizard noises. "You tricked me!"
More confusion. <You knew that fish do not exist out of water and that I cannot create solid things, you had all the necessary information to infer the fish were not real.>
"I don't know what you can and can't do!"
<I can see the future, move things with my mind, and project my psychic song.>
"...How do I know you're saying the truth?"
Extreme confusion. <I do not lie.>
"But how do I know that?"
<By observing that everything I say is true.>
"... I guess."
<Why do you think I would lie to you?>
"Michael said that's what big sisters do."
<Excuse me for a moment,> she says, and telekinetically opens the door then picks the path that will most quickly lead her to Michael.
As it happens, Michael is playing with his sister. Well, cousin/half sister, but who's quibbling.
Michael is picked up, dragged up until they're not underwater anymore, and shaken in the air.
"Ahhhgfhghgh! Whhhhhhhy?"
<You have told my brother that I lied to him. You were mistaken.>
"I just said that's what big sisters do!"
<I am his big sister. I do not do it. Therefore that is not what big sisters do.>
"Mine does!"
<If your sister does not like you, that is not my or my brother's problem. Please do not offer him advice again.>
And she releases him.
He immediately surfaces. "Hey, my sister loves me!"
<Then why does she lie to you?>
"It's like joking."
<No, it is not.>
And back she goes.
"What did you do?" he snarls.
<I informed Michael that I do not lie and that he should refrain from giving you advice about older sisters in the future as his sample is biased and he does not know much about them.>
"Did you shake him?"
<Yes.>
He makes annoyed lizard noises. "But he's my friend!"
<Yes, and he was mistaken and made you think I lied to you.>
"He's going to think he'll get shaken all the time if we play!"
<If he does not set you and Maurice against me, he is not.>
"You take things too serious."
<You were upset with me for imagined slights.>
"But did you have to go shake Michael?"
<Yes.>
"I don't think people listen to shaking."
<Then they will be shaken more.>
"Then why do it?"
<So they will learn.>
"I think," comments Mary, "that your brother is implying shaking them will not make them learn."
<After enough shaking it will.>
"Possibly, possibly not."
Silence.
"Maybe we could try anger management classes?"
<I am not angry.>
"State-analogous-to-anger management?" suggests Mary.
<I am not in any state analogous to anger.>
"When you and Maurice start school, shaking won't be tolerated."
<I will not start school.>
"I thought you were going to be with Maurice?"
<I will accompany him. I will not attend the institution.>
"Still no shaking."
Silence.
"Zaneta said we should use our words when people are Mistaken."
<I tell them they are Mistaken. They insist on their mistakes.>
"Sometimes you could explain better."
<If people desire more complex explanations they should ask for them.>
A few days later, Maurice starts to stir.
The Morrígan knew this well in advance, of course, so she's by his side then.
As are Levi and Maurice's parents.
"So Maurice will have powers when he wakes up?"
<He will.>
He opens his eyes and looks around, blinking a bit. "Hello."
<Hello.>
Maurice's parents naturally attempt to hug the life out of him. He eventually gets a look at his skin. "Huh. Weird. Pretty, but weird."
<You are beautiful.>
Maurice's parents are a little surprised by Morri's statement. Maurice is just a bit flattered. "Thank you!"
<You are welcome.>
He is allowed out of bed. He then proceeds to notice the tips of his wings. He squeals and flaps them excitedly.
<You can use them to fly.>
He does so. Morri is hugged. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"
She accepts the hugs.
Levi is hugged, too.
"Um, why are you hugging me? I didn't do anything."
"Cause you're my brother too now."
"Oh, yeah."
Satisfaction.
"We should go flying," he says to Morri.
<Yes.>
First however, there are many examinations to be made of Maurice, all perfectly routine. At some point he accidentally turns Morri red.
She permits this.
"Do you like being red?"
<I am indifferent to colors.>
"Yeah. You're pretty any colour."
Agreement.
"Wing buddies!"
More agreement. Something akin to fondness.
Eventually, Maurice and Morri are let outside to fly a bit, Maurice's parents watching nervously.
She does not really fly—she telekinetically moves herself. That's splitting hairs, though.
As it happens, this is also how he flies, although his TK is limited to his person. He screams in delight as he swoops past Morri.
She does not produce sounds but broadcasts satisfaction.
He grabs her by the arm and sort of air dances with her.
She is graceful and stoic.
"You don't really smile do you?"
<No.>
"Why not?"
<I do not move my face.>
"I was wondering about that."
<Yes.>
"And why is that?"
<I have no reason to.>
"Smiling is how people know you're happy."
<Yes.>
"Oh, don't be silly, you're happy sometimes."
<No.>
"I heard you!"
<Heard me what?>
"Be happy."
<You did not.>
"It's...different happy."
<You are mistaken.>
"Only mostly."
Confusion.
"The part of you that's like us. I can hear it."
<I see.>
"It's small, but important."
Indifference.
"I'm gonna help you be nice to people who aren't me and Levi."
<Yes you are.>
"Because if you're mean life will be harder."
<Whose?>
"Everyone's... including mine and Levi's."