Free Legacy (The Biodome Chronicles) by Jesikah Sundin Page A

,” he said with a sly smile. Fillion enjoyed their curious expressions, feeling the power of control return to his mind and limbs. He was fluent in Japanese; all the elite children of his generation spoke the tech tongue. “Don’t leave. I’m checking out your story.”
    Willow angled her head as she watched him tuck long strands of hair behind his ear. Fillion knew he looked like a freak in her eyes, especially with the small black plugs in his lobes, multiple piercings up his ear and the Cranium device resting against his skull. A single touch brought the device to life. Willow took a step back and placed fingers over her mouth. The main holographic user interface popped up in midair. The medieval hippies gasped audibly and his eyes darted their direction. With practiced skill, despite the building tremor in his hands, Fillion went to select the privacy screen, then changed his mind. Let them watch holographic technology in action. Fillion wasn’t under contract to protect them from technological influence. At this moment, he couldn’t care less about any of those stupid rules.
    With a quick glance their direction, he swiped the names “Joel Watson” and “Della Jayne” into a search bar. Information continued to load onto the screen that wavered in front of his vision. His finger manipulated the search results, pointing and moving up in a slow fashion to scroll. A multitude of articles popped up that mentioned their presence in “Eco-Crafting Eden.” It was a name he had never heard of before.
    The first line of one article halted his movements, and he began to read: “Live action role-players this month began a first of its kind vlog, streaming highlights from their game as a weekly reality TV series. Social networks are buzzing with images and conversations about the impressive physical gaming world located just east of Everett, Wash. ‘Eco-Crafting Eden’ promises to be an epic adventure featuring civilizations in five ancient worlds that must rebuild post-apocalypse without the aid of modern machines but permitted to use progressive Green methods. Player characters have been assigned to Ancient Greece, Egypt, China, the Middle Ages or Colonial America.” He stopped reading and studied a photo, stunned when he recognized a few faces—not just his mom and Joel Watson, but his dad too. Fillion had never searched his parents online. He had better things to do than waste his time reading about his family on the Net. In light of everything he was seeing now, though, he realized his foolishness.  
    The engagement announcement appeared and he tapped it twice, opening up the article, and his eyes skimmed over the details. Leaf’s story was legit. His mom knew the Earth Element? Was engaged to him at one point? His hands framed the hologram, and pushed in the image until the article diminished. “Cranium off,” he said, relieved when the static sound in his head ended. In a fit, his muscles itching for some continual form of release, he took the device off his ear and tossed it forcefully onto his desk, rubbing his eyes.
    The Watson siblings stood before him alive. They were connected to his mom through their dad, who was apparently dead. The lawsuit and allegations about the kids’ deaths was completely unnecessary. He had spent nearly six years in shame, and for what? He was so angry he could burn down New Eden. It was a good thing he lived in Seattle, a couple states away. What was he going to do? He felt as if his heart stopped beating when a familiar pang arrested him, constricting the life from his body as the grip grew tighter.
    “Do you have any other sisters or brothers, Maiden?”
    “What is your intention, Dungeon Master? Do you have plans for such a relation?”
    “Easy, Willow Oak Watson. I have no plans. It’s my last question.”
    Fillion’s heart kicked up again at saying her name aloud to her living face. He sucked in a breath, and then whispered, “Oh, shit,” when realizing his