Universal Collision

Take care of your sister

Elizabeth sat at the end of Emma's bed and tucked her in.

"What was it that you wanted to ask me?" She asked her daughter.

Emma pointed to a small red beanie that sat on her dresser. "Can I stop wearing the hat?"

"Why do you want to stop wearing it? Aunt Tamara gave it to you."

"One of the boys in my class pulled it off the other day. He saw my horns. Ever since, he's been picking on me and my friends. He called me a monster."

Elizabeth sighed and brandished her tendrils. "People fear what they don't understand, Emma. Plus, I love your horns. I think they're adorable."

Emma smiled. "Really, mommy?"

Elizabeth nodded. "I do."

"Do daddy and Lauren think the same thing?"

"I'm sure they do."

Emma giggled as Elizabeth tickled her with her tendrils. She retracted them and stood up. "I'll see you in the morning. Good night, Emma." She closed her bedroom door silently and walked to the kitchen, where Lauren and Alex were cleaning dishes.

Lauren dried a plate and set it in the cabinet. "Is something wrong, mom?"

Elizabeth shook her head and sighed. "No. Not yet."

Lauren rolled her eyes. "I know when you're lying. Now, can you please tell me?"

Alex placed a soapy hand on her shoulder. "Wait until after we're done with this. We'll tell you."

Lauren sighed. "Fine."

Elizabeth took a plate from Alex and handed it to her. "I just want you to do one thing for me."

"Sure. Anything, mom."

Elizabeth's eyes drifted to the window. "Make sure that you and Emma stay safe at all costs. Can you promise me that, Lauren?"

Lauren dried the plate and placed it in the cabinet. "I'll do my best."

Elizabeth smiled slightly. "Thank you." She walked into the dining room and sat where she could see the door of Emma's bedroom. "Please, Lauren. Keep your promise. Protect your sister no matter what." She whispered to herself.

Alex and Lauren joined her a few minutes later. Lauren took a sip of her soda. "What's going on, mom?"

Elizabeth and Alex looked her dead in the eye and answered.

"Rapture. A Rapture from another universe is here and he may be after Emma. If he gets to her, then all hope is lost. We need to make sure that never happens. We need you to take her and go to aunt Tamara's house for a little while." Elizabeth explained.

Lauren shook her head. "Why can't I help? I can fight, I have the revolvers dad gave me. Why can't I help you guys?"

Alex slammed his fist on the table. "You will. You'll help by protecting your sister. In a sense, you're her last defense. Please, just listen to your mom. We're only trying to keep you safe."

Lauren teared up. "But what if you two don't come back? Then what?"

Alex took Elizabeth's hand. "Make a life of your own. We have enough money for you two to live for a while. If need be, live with Calvin. He won't be happy about it, but he won't turn his back on his family. That includes you two whether he likes it or not."

Lauren jumped up and hugged both of them. "Please don't go. I don't want to lose either of you."

They hugged her back. "Don't worry. We'll come back. We promised six years ago that we would never leave you behind. We're not going to break that promise." Alex said.

Lauren looked over at Alex's equipment. "I wish I had powers like you guys."

Elizabeth brandished a tendril. "I'm going to inject you with venom. You'll have tendrils like me. Use them only to defend yourself and Emma. Hold still, this is going to hurt."

She drove it into Lauren's shoulder and dripped seven small drops of venom into her bloodstream. Lauren cried out as five tendrils erupted from her back.

After a few minutes, she was over the pain. She waved her new tendrils around. "This is weird. It feels like having extra arms."

Elizabeth retracted her tendrils.

"It'll take some getting used to. In the morning, I need you to pack your's and Emma's bags and drive to Red's. We'll be back to check on you guys, I promise."

Lauren drug a tendril across the table and grabbed the knife that Alex had cut himself with. She stabbed the table with it, rocking it and knocking her soda to the floor. "How do I know I can trust you? How do I know you'll keep your promise?"

Alex pulled the knife out. "As much as I hate to admit it, you don't. You'll have to take it on blind faith."

Lauren lashed a tendril around his arm. "That's not good enough!"

Elizabeth lashed her tendrils around Lauren's waist, forcing her to retract her tendrils. "Lauren, stop it!"

Lauren's previously angered expression softened. "I'm sorry, mom. I don't know what came over me."

Elizabeth smiled and released her. "Alex's cousin, Marriko, was the same way. She could barely control herself after Rapture's defeat. It's not entirely your fault."

Alex pulled his guns from under the table. "I have to go somewhere. I'll be back soon. Please be careful,"

He reached over and pulled his coat off the rack. "Lauren. If I don't come back, take care of your sister."

He opened the door to the balcony and jumped off as he donned his mask.

Lauren stood up and stared as he disappeared from view. "I hope it doesn't come to that."