Forerunner's Child (Epilogue) (Patreon)

The new Director of the Institute of Perpetual Luminescence had plenty of responsibilities. There were always decisions to make, people to help, and tensions to smooth out. Every day she had new projections from Forerunner to consider, and a list of potential research directions to approve or discourage.

But more important than any of those jobs, there was another responsibility, one the old director had taken extremely seriously. It was only fair for Kit to give it the same respect.

Someone had to be there when new colonists woke up.

It wasn't something that happened often—Forerunner had already instanced those most qualified to fill various scientific or research roles. But Maddie's proposals opened more resources, allowing the Institute to fabricate more people to fill potential gaps. Kit wasn't the colony's youngest for very long.

It always happened the same way—Forerunner gave her a report on the new arrival, describing their talents, personality, and recommending their new department. Kit would make a few calls, so the new arrival would have a roommate to live with, and groups with similar interests could invite them to activities.

Her first new colonist, though—she was the strangest. 

Kit sat up in her computer chair, staring at the photograph recorded along with the file. She leaned in close, pinching with two fingers until her face filled the screen. "Hold on. I've seen her before. It was..."

Not her old life. These memories were too clear. "I called her! She was... going to school in Solstice. Told me not to leave. I thought you made her up."

"Not precisely. Sarah's life on Mara was fictional, but she is not."

"I... don't understand." Kit shrank the picture back down, skimming the other details. Sarah had military qualifications, along with several paragraphs of detailed explanation. "Wait. She's a con artist? Our first colonist isn't even real military?"

"I simulated her at Wren's instruction—when she realized you might make inquiries outside the city. When I did, I arranged with her that cooperation would allow her to join the colony. If her persuasion had been successful, it would not have seemed unusual for you to meet her here. It would even strengthen your faith in Wren's story."

Kit nodded, skimming through the other pages. One had a rendering of Sarah's new body—with huge bat ears and a short, webbed tail. Forerunner had even given her the hair she wanted. "She helps us?" Kit pressed. "Making her, instead of someone else?"

"Yes. She will take a service position, and supplement Sawyer's work maintaining colony morale. This human went to great lengths to survive. She will respond with gratitude and loyal service."

Kit sighed, then tapped her approval. "If you say so. Just make sure the records show that Wren requested her. I'm honoring her promise, that's all."

"Very well. Emma is already on her way to fabrication. You should leave in the next few minutes if you want to be there when Sarah wakes up."

By the time she got up, Jay had already made it back with a bundle of clothes in both arms. "Fabrication just finished with the director's uniform in your size. If you, uh—want to be all dressed up when you welcome her."

Kit took them gratefully, beaming at her new assistant. Jay was still free to do any other computer things, or work with photonics. But it took the mouse almost all day just vetting the director's proposals. "Guess I should. First impressions and all."

She stepped out of view of the window looking down, just in case. Her new position did call for a certain dignity, after all. While she dressed, Kit handed over her tablet, still on the page with Sarah's new template. "What do you think of the bat?"

Jay took it, looking thoughtful. "Without wings, she's a lot like us. Anyone Forerunner thinks is a mouse must be nice." 

Kit straightened her dress a second later, accepting her tablet in the little shoulder-bag she always wore. "You wanna come?"

"No." Jay rocked back and forth, ears wrinkling. "Still want Sadie to say she's okay. After that, maybe. Hair thing looks cool. Could we do that too?"

Kit slipped out without answering the question, jogging around the corner into the crowd of waiting residents. Sadie had them stopped, held back by the force of her glare and the cold water in her bottle. "Director. Last I heard from Emma, the bat is already awake. Are you ready to go in?"

Kit turned to face the crowd. "I'll bring her out in a few minutes. Just remember—you were new once too. It can be overwhelming. Be kind, be welcoming, be forgiving of her mistakes. I'm sure she'll be another great addition to the Institute."

One deer got her attention near the front—Sawyer, waving energetically. "I've cleared my schedule the rest of the day. New bat needs a friend, I'll keep her company. Say the word."

"I'm sure she'd like that. Her profile said something about gymnastics and cheer. I don't think we have the latter... get some of the former onto her schedule."

"You got it boss." He saluted, and Kit left the crowd behind, stepping through the doors into the medical changing room. Not long ago, Kit had emerged from this exact space, passing oversized benches until she found one her size. The big ones were all gone now—everyone who left fabrication could use the same facilities going forward.

Including the bat.

Sarah had some incredible coordination—or maybe Kit had just come out of the printer particularly clumsy. She was already fully dressed, in a vaguely athletic, elastic outfit meant to invoke some of her younger memories and make adaptation easier.

She had way shorter hair, close to her scalp on one side, and longer on the other. The colony now had its solid victor for the largest ears on Mara—so tall that Sarah had been made a little shorter than the average template. They couldn't have her hurting those huge bat-ears on the ceiling.

"I have to ask this to everyone who comes out of there..." Sadie was saying. "You're not a violent barbarian, are you? You're human? Civilized?"

"Yeah yeah. How come you two get to be older?" Sarah asked. "And she doesn't?"

Emma took a few more seconds with her medical tablet, then tucked it away. "You are Institute standard, Sarah."

"Looks safe enough," Sadie said. "At her size, even you could pick her up if you had to, Director." She stepped aside, lowering her hand from the spray bottle. "But I've still got my eye on you, bat. I'll use this if I have to."

Kit forced her tail into its usual relaxed, upright position, then stepped forward. "That won't be necessary. We spoke before. Do you remember me, Sarah?"

The bat bit her lip, tilted her head to one side—then her eyes went huge. She surged forward, gripping one of Kit's arms, then prodding at her chest. "Hang on! You were the one poking around asking questions! That adorable little..."

She squeaked loudly, arms flailing under her as Sadie lifted her by her collar, holding her away from Kit. "Relax, bat. The Director's a rodent, she can get scared easily. You'll probably know exactly how it feels."

Indeed, Sarah's squealing turned into a frightened whimper. "Y-you can't... j-just..."

Kit took one of the bat's hands, helping her down to ground level. She rested one arm on her shoulder. "I appreciate you looking out for me, Sadie. But it's fine. Could you two check on the crowd? We'll be right out."

Sadie's frown deepened. "Are you sure? Fresh out of the fabricator—not everyone is as nice as us. Some need time in Remedial first."

Emma took one step back. "She's cleared for duty. I'll make sure I have her first bat-breakfast ready by morning. Batfast?"

"No." Sadie stuck out her tongue. "Try harder."

They left together, arguing playfully about what to call Sarah's first meal. The bat remained close to her, holding one arm around Kit's neck. At least until they were gone, and she finally let go. 

Sarah wiped away tears from one eye. She hid her distress well—but her tone still shook when she spoke. "You are her, right? The girl with the tail as big as she was."

Kit turned sideways, holding up her tail. "I... guess it is, by volume. You remember that conversation? And what happened before?"

Sarah nodded sheepishly. " If you woke up in a computer simulation and God told you to tell a lie or he'd delete you..."

Kit hugged her, tight enough that she squeaked and went silent. It just felt like what a good director should do. "Welcome to the Institute of Perpetual Luminescence, Sarah." She held on another second, then released her, keeping one hand on her shoulder. "I want you to know something before you go out there."

Sarah wiped her face with one arm, nodding weakly. "Y-yeah?"

"I don't really care what you did before you were a bat. I'm never gonna tell anyone. Your life starts here, okay?"

She sniffed. The bat caught her arm and squeezed. "Really?"

"Really."

Sarah lost her battle with tears. She wrapped both arms around Kit, burying her face in her chest. "Th-this... isn't... fair," she eventually said. "So... tiny. Thoughts are... emotions... hard to..."

Kit let her finish. "We're stuck with that for a while. Mara is an awful place, Sarah. It wants to kill us. My friends and I want to live. Will you help?"

The bat straightened, releasing Kit. "Yeah! I think I can do that."