"Sister, I'm so very, very disappointed in you," Skori said. His voice had remained low, but was now quiet, bereft of any emotion, as he was for once without any true way to express himself. "How could you even think …?"
"Brother, please, that's enough," Mericlou said quietly as rounded the couch where Alaema sat. Standing behind her, she placed her hands on her shoulders.
"Please, don't be hard on her," she said, her words causing her family to stare at her in amazement. "She couldn't have known that what she did would have turned into something like this. After all, I didn't know it until Aldrec told me. And besides, if anyone was to blame for this, it was me. I was the one who cast the deciding vote against having her re-programmed, even when I myself went in for it, despite the dangers. I should have been more willing to allow her to take the risk for her sake. Had I not been so afraid for her, this probably wouldn't have happened. And furthermore, I was the one who tried to keep my relationship with Aldrec a secret from her. I don't deny that Alaema can be immature, but she's never kept up her teasing for long. I was just scared of letting her know, and having to be embarrassed for a moment. But I should've known that I couldn't keep this a secret forever. Alaema knew, and-"
"Yes … I did know," Alaema said, having at last gathered up the strength to make her own thoughts known. Her voice was bitter, and nearly garbled from choking back her own tears. "And I wasn't just bored; I was angry. "I shouldn't have done what I did; I know it now. But Meri …" She sniffled loudly and wetly. " …I wanted you to treat me like I was more mature! I'm not some human child! I'm more aware of my flaws than you are, and yet you still treat me like that broken little android you found in that brothel all those years ago! I just want to be like one of you … I want to be normal!"
Her last words were almost intelligible, as she leaned onto Mericlou's arm, and with a nearly bruising grip, sobbed like a child who lost her favorite toy to a gang of bullies.
Mericlou, her heart swelling with a love for her sister that she had never known before, kneeled down beside her, and brought Alaema's head into her bosom, allowing her to empty her sorrow at her leisure. When it ended, she lifted Alaema's hanging head and looked straight into her now-bloodshot eyes.