Newly rebirthed, the Xylites surprisingly took little time to get used to their bearings. A few even had a recognisable inner contempt for some of their neighbours which they knew to have been retained from their last lives.
The first few weeks of their new existence was a bore. Having dealt with Jedivar’s complaints about Jexin, and the subsequent reprimanding by Jeminly, Analystic was left seeking solace in anyone who had at least the bare potential to act… calm.
To him, some peace would go a long way now. If he couldn’t get them to play nice with each other, then they’d all cease to exist sooner rather than later. The sad fact was that he was just as short-tempered as any of them.
Jubilee was in the lounge when he walked in. He couldn’t bring himself to look her in the eyes. He still wasn’t sure if he’d done the right thing with Jexin, this time or the last. Then there was Jeeves. He paid no mind to anyone. Analystic had arranged for his request to be met during the first few days. He had asked very kindly for a few papers to catch up on the latest news considering how much time they’d lost. It baffled Analystic really. It was the simplest of the requests he’d received, not to mention the only modest one.
In contrast, Jedivar had asked for an assortment of long-range weaponry with specifically measured ammunition that ensured minimal bullet-drop. Juno wanted a collection of the purest chemical compounds stored at some strange, very specific, very obscure temperature within a specialised container. He chalked this up to needing it for testing the latest line of battle suits he was designing.
“Yes. How is he getting on with that?” Jeeves inquired, never really catching Analystic’s eye. A stylish automobile had caught his attention, but not for a good reason. He was appalled by the too-sleek design. For Jeeves, a car ought to have a few edges at the very least. It only seemed natural to him.
“You see. That’s what amuses me. I don’t recall us ever having a previous line of battle suits.” Analystic was slouched on the chair alongside him. They had a quaint little round table for themselves at the corner of the lounge. What set it apart from other tables is that Jeeves had added an ash tray for smoking. He liked to do so every now and then, even at a strong recommendation against smoking by Jexin himself. For context, Jexin was the pilot.
Then, rather unexpectedly, their eyes met. Jeeves was surprised – he had forgotten his extra pack. For a moment, his mind shuddered at the thought of how long it would take to have another few delivered. “You know I ought to just quit these. They make the tea taste dull.”
“No Jeeves. I had to cut a few costs. We’re getting the cheaper packets.” To this, Jeeves nodded still.
“Even so then. I can’t have us wasting what we have on my things.” He took a hefty sip there and then.
The children came in now – Jyventale and Juya. Analystic saw how animated Jubilee got very suddenly.
“You know, in spite of everything, we’d all come together for those two.” Jeeves let him know it, and it comforted him. He was right too.
Juno came in with these magic potions he brewed in his lab. One of them turned Juya’s skin pink. She almost blew up like a balloon. It was very frightening, but then she started to float. Oh, she loved that. Jyventale wanted to fly too. It ridiculous having these two balloons bouncing around the lounge. Jyventale even tipped Jeeves’s mug over. They came round shortly after back to their little selves, just in time to huddle up with Jubilee for story time. Juno stayed. Jazinivee was there too and a few other Xylites.
“What’s wrong?” Jeeves noticed how Analystic was. The worst thing was that, despite how sweet the moment seemed, he still couldn’t bring himself to look at Jubilee.
At once, miraculously, it seemed as though all of them were finally getting along. Jubilee, Juno… all the Js, no, most of them. He couldn’t help but notice who wasn’t there. Analystic didn’t think he would, but he cared.
“Did I make a mistake with Jexin?”
Jeeves gave him an answer, but they both knew it didn’t matter what he told him.
