Chapter Twenty?Five
The Lantern Slippers’ Revenge
Morning aboard the S.S. Cosmic Clover arrived with a soft shift in the ship’s ambient lights — a warm, sunrise-like glow that the Clover only activated when she was in an especially good mood.
Today, apparently, she was in an excellent mood.
Kessa yawned her way into the galley, still wearing her glitter-speckled pajamas and the plush lantern slippers the twins had forced into existence during the prank war. They flickered as she walked, casting tiny stars across the floor.
Kael was already at the table, hair sticking up in multiple directions, hands wrapped around a cup of tea. The robot bee sat in front of him mimicking his posture in tiny, buzzing solidarity.
“You look rough,” Kessa said cheerfully.
Kael glared through the steam. “Lyra snuck into my room at 3am and whispered, ‘Truce doesn’t mean surrender.’”
Kessa snorted so hard tea nearly shot out her nose. “She’s a menace. I love her.”
Before Kael could reply, the hatch slid open and Jarin entered — calm, composed, and carrying two medkits like the galaxy’s most responsible sherpa.
Following him by half a step was Lyra, wearing her own glowing slippers, a huge grin, and absolutely no remorse.
“Morning siblings!” Lyra sang.
Kael narrowed his eyes. “What are you plotting?”
Lyra gasped. “ME? Plotting? Never.”
Kessa whispered loudly to Kael, “She’s absolutely plotting.”
Kael muttered, “I know.”
Lyra plopped into the seat across from them, kicking her feet so the slippers’ little lanterns jingled. “Today we do important hauler things! Serious things. No more pranks.”
“Good,” Kael said. “Thank—”
Lyra raised a finger. “Until AFTER lunch.”
Kessa applauded. “A visionary!”
Jarin set his medkits down with a long, resigned sigh. “You three are like unstable particles. If you bounce too close, things… detonate.”
Kael pointed at him. “Jarin. Please keep her from breaking anything.”
Lyra gasped dramatically. “I NEVER break anything!”
All three siblings stared at her.
“…intentionally,” she amended.
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The robot bee buzzed a doubtful note.
The Day Begins (Sort of)
Kael pulled up the nav screen. “We’ve got a cargo pick-up from—”
The Clover abruptly dimmed all lights, pulsed her hull once, and brightened again.
Kessa blinked. “She just told us no.”
Kael frowned. “Clover, that wasn’t a question.”
The ship pulsed again.
Jarin smirked. “She thinks you should rest.”
Kael scowled. “Ships don’t have opinions.”
Kessa pointed at the flashing status indicator. “That one does.”
Lyra cheered. “SHIP SAYS NAP TIME!”
Kael groaned into his hands. “Why is everyone against me today?”
Kessa patted his shoulder. “It’s not you. It’s your dramatic forehead wrinkles.”
“Kessa—”
“They’re very expressive. They practically say ‘I need a break.’”
Kael’s forehead wrinkles deepened.
Lyra shouted, “SEE?”
Kael stood up. “Fine. One break. ONE.”
Jarin lifted his tea. “That’s all we needed you to say.”
Unexpected Consequences of Lantern Slippers
As Kael headed down the hallway, Lyra whispered to Kessa:
“Activate it.”
Kessa grinned and tapped her wristband.
Suddenly—
Kael’s slippers (which he had unknowingly put on) began glowing brighter. And brighter. And brighter.
He stopped mid?stride, staring at his now-blindingly-brilliant feet.
“…Kessa.”
“Yes?”
“Why are my feet doing that.”
Kessa sang: “Because, dear brother, you’re… light on your toes.”
Jarin groaned. Lyra cackled. The robot bee buzzed like it was applauding.
Kael stared at her. “Kessa.”
“Yes?”
“That was the worst pun you’ve ever inflicted on me.”
Kessa bowed. “Thank you.”
Kael’s slippers pulsed again.
He whispered, “Turn them off.”
“No.”
“Kessa—”
“They deactivate when you take a nap.”
Kael froze. “That is emotional blackmail.”
Jarin sipped his tea. “And effective.”
Lyra slammed both hands on the table. “KAEL! DO IT! GIVE IN TO THE SLIPPERS.”
The Clover hummed a soft, gentle chord — unmistakably encouraging him.
Kael stared at the glowing footwear.
“Fine,” he said, defeated. “I’ll take a nap.”
The slippers immediately dimmed to a soft, satisfied glow.
Lyra fist-pumped. Kessa cheered. Jarin nodded approvingly. The robot bee twirled like a tiny disco ball.
Kael sighed. “You people are unhinged.”
Kessa hugged him tightly. “We love you.”
Lyra hugged him from the other side. “Join us on the cozy side.”
Jarin placed a steady hand on Kael’s back. “You deserve rest.”
Kael melted into the moment.
“…Okay,” he whispered. “Okay. Nap time.”
The Clover dimmed her lights tenderly, guiding him to his bunk.
And for the first time in days, Kael fell asleep smiling — slipper glow and all — surrounded by family, by light, and by a ship who now understood the art of pranking just as well as her crew.
