The Six Sectors

Chapter Fifty-Eight - Zion

Never in my life had I expected to get married, or adopt a kid. Yet there I was, with both. Currently in my seal form, I merely relaxed myself, laying on the riverbank, watching Cicada and Aquila. Aquila was learning how to swim, and Cicada wasn't the best teacher. He had his mask off today, as he had gotten more confident around me with it off. It was a nasty wound, but it was a part of him.

I rolled into the water before swimming over to the two, chuckling. "Do you need help?"

"Yes? No? Maybe?" Cicada gave me a helpless look with those leaf green eyes of his. "I need help."

"Daddies! Am I doing it right?" Aquila said, the griffin taking his claws in and out of the water, splashing and getting nowhere.

I smiled and swam over to him. "Not quite Aque, keep trying." Aquila nodded and kept trying, accidentally transforming and going under.

"Ah!" He raised his hands and splashed around.

I immediately went over to help, pushing him above water. He giggled, his brown hair now wet and stuck to his head. His shirt of feathers were soaked too. He still wore a smile on his face, and he looked a bit like Cicada and I in this form with his green eyes, light brown skin and dark brown locks.

I chuckled and transformed myself, pushing him over to the shallower water. "Well, now we are in the same form. This should be easier."

"Thank you Daddy." He smiled, hopping around a bit. Cicada breathed a sigh of relief.

"Why is he so determined to kill himself?" He deadpanned.

"Why are you so determined to be handsome?" I retorted with a smug grin, before turning back to Aquila, "Watch," I started swimming. He watches me like a hawk, then copies, having a bit of trouble given he wasn't the strongest. Cicada was blushing a pure red, from my comment of course. He groaned.

"Why are you so determined to make me flustered? That's my job." My gryllitaur husband whined.

"You're bad at it," I replied, before swimming back to Aquila. Aquila looked up with a smile. Cicada sighed, swimming over.

"How did I get the cutest husband and son in the world." He kissed my cheek. It felt uneven, and rough, not that I really cared. He then picked Aquila up and blew into his belly, making him squeal with laughter. Our dragon Pacific slipped in, obviously to try and see if Aquila was okay.

I smiled and looked at Pacific, the beautiful dragon always able to capture my attention. Her sleek brown body swam to us, and Aquila hugged her. "Hi, Pacifi!" Cicada chuckled.

"Pacific, Aquila. Not Pacifi. Close, though." He said, ruffling Aque's hair.

I watched the exchange, before going under the water.

"HEY WHEATLEY!" Cicada then said, getting out of the water with Aquila.

I stayed underwater a bit longer.

"Hey, Cicada." Wheatley looked at our son. "Aquila, can you go play? I need to talk to both of your fathers." Cicada cocked his head.

"Wheats? Something wrong?"

I resurfaced. "What is it Wheatley?"

"There have been..." Wheatley said once Aquila was out of earshot. "Unauthorized collections...On Synthcy and Cogswatch. Next target is predicted to be Lerivia. We're separating the gang."

"What?!" Cicada's eyes were wide. "I thought we said we would never do that."

"Ciccy, it's too dangerous." Wheatley said with a shaky sigh. "We're doing this with the children in mind. Save for Helo and mine's families. We're living in one house cause the kids are too close." Tears were dripping down the new Head Scientist's face.

I had no words. I had gotten quite close to the others, but now... We were separating.

"Wait, wouldn't it be more dangerous to split up?" I asked.

"Queen Tehya of the Synthcians noticed they were always after something when they were attacked - they all went for children. So we each are handing these out." Wheatley handed a small bracelet like device. "This is the same thing that was given to Nyx - virtually. We made a lighter version. This one with make Aquila only remember memories of you. We're giving these to all of the kids, save for Kisame Aerizat and Dyn. He won't remember Ijetix or anything. It'll also put a shield on him." Wheatley reached into his other pocket. "We also have another thing. A house shield, just in case. You don't have to do the bracelet. But you have to do the house shield." He looked at us. "Please, trust us on this."

"... Alright..." I mumbled. Wheatley placed the items into Cicada's hands.

"Again, sorry." He quickly walked away. "...Goodbye, Greenleafs." Cicada was crying by now.

"...Bye Hanity." My husband was shaking.

"Goodbye..." I said, hugging Cicada, trying to comfort him. Maybe me, too. He hugged back with his free arm.

"Unauthorized collections....Separating....I...." Cicada broke into tears, falling to his knees. He was shaking worse now.

I held him close, hoping it was helping at all.

This was bad.

"Daddy?" Aquila said, shifting into his griffin form.

I looked over at Aquila, giving him a smile.

"Yes?"

"Why is Papa sad??" He asked with a worried tone.

"Something happened," I replied.

"But what?" He ran over. Cicada looked up at me. He was thinking about it. He was going to use the bracelet.

I remained silent, unsure of what to say.

"Aque, arm please." Cicada shakily said. Aquila cocked his head, giving Cicada an arm. He slipped the item on, and Aquila shook his head, then looking up at Cicada and I.

"What?"

"Nothing," I shook my head.