The Infinity Chronicles Volume 1

Act-4B: Karen's misadventures...

Act 4B: "Karen's misadventures..."

The next morning, Karen came into the room carrying a tray of breakfast: eggs, sausage, bacon, biscuits, toast, OJ and coffee.

"Wow! You were busy this morning!" Alex said, as he sat up, and gave Cygna the nod to eat. She ate happily and quietly.

"Hey, after the last few days, and the fact that until I turn 18, you'll be supporting me, I figured it was the least I could do." She said with a smile.

"I hate to burst your bubble kid, but you still can't touch your trust fund at 18. You need mom or dad to sign you into or out of a bank when dealing with it, remember?"

"Oh shit! That's right. Dammit, now I'm pissed!" Karen scuffed, as Cygna watched the banter curiously. She kept quiet, and finished eating.

"Don't sweat it sis, I have more money then god remember? I'll stake you when you turn 18. Hell, if you want to live a luxurious lifestyle as a spoiled rich kid on Alhambra, I'll pay for it. You're worth that much to me." He said with a smile. Her mood brightened, and her eyes went wide with an idea.

"Alex? I can't go on board Center, or to Marrok, but what if we advanced this timetable by a few years, and I lived on Alhambra? I mean, I can register as a home schooled student, I can apply for all the classes I've missed, and hell, I have a couple of girlfriends that got relocated there because of their parents' jobs. So, what do you say?" She explained, and sounded very hopeful. At this point Cygna chose to speak up.

"Master? If I may interject?" She asked, as Alex pondered Karen's request.

"Sure kitten, what is it?"

"Thank you Master. As I see it, Karen is a virtual prisoner here, with no one to talk to save for you or I. As a young woman, she needs to be around others like herself, in order to fully develop the necessary social skills to live a balanced life. Plus, it gets her out of your hair, so to speak, no offense Mistress."

"None taken kitten!" Karen said as she leaned over and kissed Cygna on the nose. Cygna smiled, as Alex cleared his throat.

"Ok, here's what I'll do. I'll transfer funds from my account, and set up an account in your name on Alhambra, but with a weekly spending limit, not to exceed say 10,000 credits. Don't need you running off and throwing huge galas at my expense. I'll get you set up with a suite, my old suite, don't ask, in Sybaros."

"Sybaros?! You have a suite in Sybaros?" Karen gasped, knowing full well that if her brother really had the funds he claimed, then having a suite in the high rollers district was easy breezy for him.

"Well, it used to be Maggie's. She left it to me when she died, and I haven't been there in almost a year, but I paid to keep it maintained, so..." He let his voice trail off, letting what he was suggesting sink in. Karen got wide-eyed, and leapt into his arms, hugging him tightly.

"Oh thank you, thank you! I did want to stay with you, but not as a prisoner."

"I know, and this gives Cygna and I more time to get to know each other better." He said, as he scratched his kitten behind her ears. She purred happily.

"Shit, I should pack! Wait a second; I don't have anything TO pack. Alex?" Karen whined at her brother, as he laughed.

"Yes, we left home in quite a hurry didn't we? No problem. I'm going on board to finish the claim on Antilles' ship, and I need to get other things."

"Like some new clothes?" Karen said, sounding hopeful.

"Yes, clothes, spares for the ship, some weapons for Marrok, along with a couple of fusion generators and some high school style educational computers. Oh, and some balloons." He said with a smile as Cygna looked at him, puzzled by the last item on his list.