Lana and Kattie finally got to sit and eat. They were both immensely pleased. Lana got full halfway through hers and asked Dobin if he had room for more. He did and finished it for her, stating hers was better with the bacon.
"Are you guys planning to study for the rest of the night?" Blaine asked.
"I need to take Sven out in a bit. What about you?" Kattie replied.
"Well, I was hoping if you were going to the park, I could go with you. I have to say the nice air was quite refreshing."
Kattie smirked, "you can come with us if it's okay with Lana."
Lana shrugged, "I don't see a problem with it. I'm just going to grow more food and stock the fridge. I'd like to have a store built up for late-night snacks. I also need a lot more wheat and grains for bread. It takes so much effort to make."
Blaine's eyes went wide, "did you just say you're making bread completely from scratch?"
Lana nodded, "I tried it the first time the other night. It seemed to work out okay."
Kattie finished eating and got up to feed Sven.
Dobin, Almin and Alto stood up to leave. Dobin gave his sister a hug and thanked her for another lovely meal. "I really do enjoy this eating at a table each night as a family rather than on the ground in secret." He smiled at her as they left.
Blaine watched the exchange with a pang in his heart. He had a mother, father, grandmother and brothers and sisters. The love he saw between this brother and sister in front of him far surpassed any level of love back home. In fact, the only family member he felt loved him in any way, truly loved him, was the one he shared his body with. Sure, they bickered, but they were brothers. Twins. He wondered what would have happened to them if things had been different.
"Lana," Blaine asked, "do you know anything about your parents at all?"
She shook her head. "We were left with a locket which we assume was our parents. But that's it."
"May I see it?"
Lana nodded, "one second." She left the room and brought back a small velvet box that contained the necklace.
Blaine watched as she opened it with tender care and looked at the locket. "It's beautiful! Why don't you wear it?"
Lana touched it softly, "I don't dare. Not yet. I'm afraid something will happen and it will get broken. I would be devastated."
Blaine nodded and reached over to close it. His hand briefly brushed hers. She pretended not to notice thinking it was an accident and left to put her treasure away.
Just after Lana returned without her locket, Kattie entered the kitchen with Sven on her shoulder. "Are you guys ready?"
They both looked at each other, got up, and followed her out.
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In Blaine's room, Chekof checked his communication device and it was blinking. He sat on his bed and placed it near his ear. "Blue Rose Orphanage belongs to a company that is a subsidiary of Abel Genetics. The girl may be a lead. See if you can get information from her."
Chekof looked down in thought for a moment. He then pressed the record button. "The girl is traumatized from the events that occurred there. I'll do what I can. End transmission." He then hit the send button and returned his device to its hiding spot.
On the roof, Karlen observed all the movement that was happening. It was really easy with these phase restrictions. Not allowed to leave base in uniform. Must march in a minimum of 2 everywhere. Most people were not interested and simply stayed in their rooms studying.
There were some that did travel. His roommate for one. He seemed to spend a lot of time with a specific girl. He didn't know if it was important or not, just noted the fact.
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While Sven flew around and did his thing, Blaine marveled once again how this girl was able to grow so much. He watched her grow a bagful of vegetables then watched her grow wheat and grains. Being small, these filled in around the vegetables in her bag. Her bag was full before Sven decided he was ready to return to their room.
As they prepared to leave, "can one of you go with me to the library?" Lana asked.
"Of course!" Blaine responded.
Kattie chuckled, "I'll take a rain check. I have some studying I want to do."
Lana nodded. "We'll walk you back first then head over."
The trio essentially marched to the front door of the building, walked through the hall with Kattie breaking off to go to their room. Lana and Blaine walked out the door through the dining facility and out the back door. Then they returned to marching.
Once they got to the library, Lana once again went to the market computers.
"Shopping again?"
Lana shifted a bit then sat down. "I want to buy Dobin a birthday present. I've never been able to do so before. I've always made him strawberry shortcake, which I will still do, but … I want him to be able to open something."
Blaine looked her in the eyes. "That means it's your birthday as well? Which day is it?"
"Tomorrow."
"What are you thinking of getting for him?"
"Well, I was thinking bedding but I don't have enough to get something really nice so maybe an outfit. Our clothing… it's an embarrassment."
"Do you need clothes? What do you like?"
Lana shrugged, "it's not anything I have put any thought into. I dyed my hair these crazy colors because my clothes were so horrid. I figured it fit the part. I don't know what would suit me."
Blaine nodded then went to a computer opposite hers.
Lana took her time picking something out that would be perfect for her brother's personality. He was laid back so casual would be good. After a lot of deliberation, she settled on 2 pair of jeans, one black, 1 blue, a teeshirt and a denim jacket. She didn't have enough to buy wrapping paper, tape and scissors so she just bought a spool of ribbon.
At Blaine's computer:
Kyle: Buy her a sundress, something that I can see her arms.
Blaine: Arms? Of all the features she has, you want to see arms? What's wrong with you!
Kyle: The other bits are for private.
Blaine chuckled: Private, huh. Does this mean you're going to be brave enough to come out and speak to her?
Kyle: She'll hate me. I didn't save them…
Blaine: Have you learned nothing of her character yet? I'm willing to bet she has the same trauma.
Kyle: Just buy her a damned sundress!
They both collected their package of purchased goods and marched back to the dorms. Blaine took her straight to her room to make sure she got there safely then went to his own. He then wrapped it up nicely. The box was too big to fit in his bag so he'd need to figure this one out.
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