March 21st, 2042
Ivory found herself in town with Honor, Birdie, and Lily. The three sat outside of a cafe as their bodyguards surrounded them. It wasn't often they left the mansion of any of the bases to be outside with the rest of the population.
Ivory loved feeling the light sun on her face. It was a beautiful spring day; 50's with some sun. Ivory wrapped her long wool coat around her as she listened to the updates her friends were giving her.
Ivory couldn't believe how quickly life had passed. She was in her 40s now, and in a couple years, Lyra would be 18. After she lost Viper, she tired to make the best out of every day because she never knew when her final days would come. The Seraphyne lived for thousands of years, and every one in a while, Blue would have her DNA reset so that she could physically, emotionally, and mentally live much longer than humanity.
When a regular human died, they were replaced by someone else --- that said person would take over their job. There weren't as many humans as before. The news had been talking about a mass decline in pure humans; Earth went from 7 billion to 1 billion. There were will many, but soon, they would all be extinct.
Ivory also knew that with this "rebellion," most would cease to exist.
"It's all over the news," Honor began, "There's a human decline."
"Why can't Blue just make the most useful humans live as long as The Seraphyne? I doubt he wants The Seraphyne taking on those jobs when they can get humans to do them. They are paid less, too," Lily said.
Ivory thought that was a good point.
"Well, you make a good point, but I think his goal is to extend his race and not ours," Ivory sighed.
"I think once that happens, he'll have the hybrid Seraphyne take over those jobs," Birdie added, "I think there'll be some hierarchy needed to ensure his children and future lineage rule Earth."
"Wouldn't The Dominion want to stay with Blue? They helped him put all of this together," Honor began. "I doubt they'd want anyone stepping over Blue. They are the ones that wanted to continue breeding with humans, and when Blue wanted to take over Earth, they supported him. They won't let any Seraphyne step out of place."
"I don't want my race to be extinct," Ivory said quietly.
"We're all humans, too, Ivory. We get it," Honor said.
Ivory looked up and smiled.
"Has Blue ..... has he asked any of you about altering your DNA?" Lily asked. "He wants my sister to do it, to prolong her life."
The women gasped.
"What did Harley say?" Ivory asked.
"You know Harley," Lily looked down.
"So, she's down for it?" Ivory thought for a moment.
"I'm not down for that," Lily said, "I don't want to live to see Blue fully destroy humanity."
"I don't know --" Birdie began, "Life is too short! I'd love to live a couple hundred years more."
Ivory stared at Honor, who just took a sip of her coffee. Honor's dark eyes and tanned skin illuminated in the sun.
"I think it sounds nice," Honor thought, "I guess I haven't thought about it that much."
"Come on, I'm not going to be immortal without you," Birdie nudged her. "Ivory and I need you."
"Wait ..." Lily and Honor gasped
"Oh, sorry, Ivory ---"
"It's all right, Birdie," Ivory nodded. "He is trying to have me outlive my body's natural capacity."
"Why didn't you tell us?"
"I don't know; I guess I thought we all were doing it," Ivory replied. "I guess I've become more secretive, too."
"Yeah, Blue will do that to you," Birdie replied cooly. "Well, I'll have to consider it!" She turned to Honor. "Please, grow immortal with me!"
"Okay, I'll do it ... for you and Ivory of course," Honor said, and she and Birdie pinkie swore.
Lily tapped Ivory's hand and nodded toward the other side of the street. Ivory narrowed her eyes and looked where Lily was focused on. Ivory was shocked to see Kael who walked too closely with a human girl in ordinary robes. The two were laughing about something, and Kael took her arm and they disappeared down an alleyway with flowers and other children playing.
Kael was 13 now; Ivory knew that meant he was going through puberty and would show interest in girls.
"Ivory," Honor squealed, "Oh my goodness," she leaned in, "Did you see him?"
"He's with an ordinary human, as Blue would say," Birdie smiled.
"Oh, Ivory," Honor said, "This moment .... this is so cute. I'm so happy we came outside! I'll have to ask Kael about her."
"That's where he has been sneaking off too," Ivory thought for a moment. "He's been loving to be outside more."
"The pursuit of love," Honor exaggerated the word love.
The four women laughed. Ivory enjoyed being with her friends and seeing her son show interest in a girl, but deep down, she knew how Blue would feel about it. And she knew what he would say.
Ivory then looked to see Serene outside with Harley; Ivory noticed that Serene blew bubbles and even pointed to a huge one.
"Look, look at that huge bubble!" Serene said to Harley, who smiled and nodded.
"Why's Serene outside?" Birdie asked.
"That's what I'd like to know," Ivory said.
Lily excused herself to the bathroom.
"You don't trust Harley with her, do you?" Honor asked.
"Well, should I?"
Honor shook her head. "She's training Serene, apparently."
"Training?"
"Oh, right, Blue didn't tell you. It's one of his many secrets," Birdie whispered. "Blue and Harley are training her early, testing her psychic abilities."
"Harley was appointed to Serene; she's her teacher full-time," Honor added.
"Right," Ivory replied. "That makes sense." Her stomach tightened.
She was fuming; not only did Blue not tell Ivory, but everyone else knew that he was training Serene to help strengthen her abilities. She knew that there was a reason why he didn't tell her.
"He thinks that the rebel is someone in the gang," Ivory decided. "This must be why he didn't tell me."
"People have been talking," Honor sighed.
"Well, who do you think it could be?"
Ivory had an idea; she didn't disclose it with them. She'd wait to see what Serene found out before it was too late.
"Serene will figure it out," Ivory said casually.
Ivory had a strong suspicion; she'd stay out of it and act normal. That last thing she needed was her husband suspecting her; she needed to stay alive to protect her children and the remaining humans.
"I suppose she's going to be a spy like Harley, if she decides not to rule," Birdie said.
"She has to rule; I think when she becomes a Queen, then she'll use her abilities to create a better tomorrow. At least Serene has a lot of empathy," Honor nodded.
"She's my favorite, for sure!" Birdie chuckled.
"You have a favorite Gravesend?" Ivory asked, bewildered.
"Well, yeah! We all do!"
"I love Lyra and Kael," Honor nodded.
"Lily loves Elara," Birdie said.
"And Red and Blue prefer Orion --" Honor said.
"Typical," Ivory said.
"Rover loves Cassian and Lyra."
"Harley? What about Harley?"
"Well, I'm not sure she has a favorite," Birdie shrugged.
"What do you ladies think of her anyway?" Ivory asked them.
Honor rolled her eyes. "She cares more about power than her own sister; her own blood."
"Put it this way -- if Blue ordered Harley to kill Lily, she'd do it."
Ivory nodded. She finally found that others agreed with her.
She still couldn't figure out why Serene and Harley happened to be on the same street as them, and Kael. Something wasn't quite right, but being in a gang meant that nothing ever was.