Board Thread:Short Stories and Fanfictions/@comment-44544645-20191211195811/@comment-44544645-20191226183405

Thirteen

'''The cave would have been dark, but its walls were sheer white, and with the light from moon jars and crystal stars reflecting around the room, it almost felt…..cozy. There were lab tables, microscopes, and a bunch of other science-y stuff Sophie couldn’t name. Mr. Forkle was there, of course. This had to be the High Seas hideout, the place where most of the work on her DNA was done. '''

Strangely, nobody else was there—besides Tiergan.

'''“Did you get the DNA for her mother?” Tiergan asked. '''

'''“Yes. A powerful Empath. This should give us the genetic basis for Inflicting. She’ll be able to heal broken minds now.”'''

“Amazing.”

“Of course, we need the DNA of a powerful Telepath, too.”

'''“Most Telepaths are members of the Nobility,” Tiergan pointed out. “They wouldn’t be likely to go against the Council, or risk this much.”'''

“Kenric—”

'''“Is a special case. It’s been very helpful having a Councillor on our side. But given the nature of the child’s mother’s DNA, we can’t use his. Also, while he is a powerful Telepath, I know someone who’s stronger.” '''

'''Tiergan looked confused, but Sophie understood. Using the DNA of one Councillor was already risky. Two was too extreme.'''

“Are you talking about yourself?” Tiergan asked.

'''“No. I’m talking about you.”'''

'''Tiergan paled. “You want me to donate DNA?”'''

'''“You don’t have any odd genetic circumstances. You’re already on our side. Please.”'''

'''It was the final word that did it. '''

'''Tiergan nodded. “I’ll do it.”'''

“That fast?”

“Truthfully, I’ve been considering this for a few weeks.”

'''Mr. Forkle took out the same silver gadget he’d used to take DNA from Oralie. “Thank you. Hold still.”'''

'''He counted to twenty-three, then removed the gadget. '''

'''“Thank you, Tiergan,” he said. “Truly.”'''

The memory ended there.

'Tiergan was her biological father?'' She took a deep breath, trying to calm the rage and confusion and panic swirling around inside her.'''

It made perfect sense, now that she thought about it.

'''A powerful, blond Telepath, who always supported Sophie. '''

'''He had to remain anonymous because he was part of the Black Swan. '''

“You’re Sophie’s father?” Fitz gasped, his expression swirling with shock.

'''Tiergan paled. “I said you could probe my mind—NOT glean secrets that need to stay buried!”'''

'''“We didn’t think that would turn up!” Fitz cried. “We just thought we’d get some backstory on Project Moonlark that we mostly know already!”'''

'''“It was a good thing to probe,” Sophie argued. “We know that we can do it now, even if a memory needs to stay hidden.”'''

'''“I guess….” Tiergan muttered. He collapsed into a chair.'''

“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” Sophie asked.

It was just like last time.

'''Shock. '''

Confusion.

Anger.

And then her feelings crystalized into a swirl of rage.

'''“You could have told me when I joined the Black Swan! You knew me then! You could have told me when you revealed your identities! You waited this long! What about when I was kidnapped? Mr. Forkle left me and Dex stranded in a Forbidden City and we almost got captured again!”'''

'''“That was his descision—not mine,” Tiergan defended. “Believe me, when I found out that he had left you there, I was almost as angry as Juline was."'''

“True,” Sophie muttered.

'''Dex’s mother was also Squall of the Collective, and Dex had been involved in almost as much Black Swan stuff as she had. If Squall had a reason to stay away, then Tiergan did too. '''

'''Still, she wasn’t done ranting. “You didn’t have to keep it secret for this long—it’s not going to mess anything up! You could have told me when I found out my biological mother!” '''

“You found out your biological mother?” Tiergan and Fitz asked together.

'''Shoot. '''

She shouldn’t have let that slip.

'''“Yes...but I can’t tell anyone. It has to stay secret.”'''

Technically, she’d told Edaline…..but that was different.

'''“And there lies the problem,” Tiergan pointed out. “What use would one parent be to you if you can’t have both? I don’t know who your biological mother is, but I do know that her identity has to be kept secret. If you knew I was your father, it would just complicate things even more. Mr. Forkle thought it was for the best that you not know either, as knowing one parent might make you more curious about the second, and I accepted his thoughts, given that he lived next door to you when you were living with humans.”'''

'''“I guess so,” Sophie admitted. “I’m still angry, though.”'''

'''“I can’t blame you,” Tiergan agreed. '''

“So….who gets to know you’re my biological father?” 

'''Tiergan took a deep breath. “Grady and Edaline, of course. Fitz already knows. Maybe a few of your friends if you absolutely have to. Please don’t tell anyone else. I understand that this is going to be hard for you, but I don’t want to complicate things further. We already have enough going on.”'''

“Okay,” Sophie conceded.

“Fitz, please don’t tell anyone.”

“I won’t,” Fitz replied.

'''Tiergan smiled, meeting their eyes as he said, “Thank you. Both of you.”'''

“Should we try probing again?” Fitz suggested.

'''“That just worked extremely well,” Tiergan pointed out. “I think you should probably do some more trust exercises. This is a huge discovery, and building your Cognate connection will help.”'''

I’ll go first, since you did last time, Sophie offered.

Sounds good, Fitz agreed.

It was weird.

'''She felt angry. Confused. Upset.'''

But also…….relieved.

'''All the secrets about the Black Swan that she felt she deserved—if she didn’t have all of them now, she had most of them. '''

She could really focus now, concentrate on what she needed to get done.