“Who’s got the time anymore?”

-A Trium Illustricate employee when a co-worker suggested that they go out and have some fun.

A greater headache than usual plagued Trisakti’s heads as they viewed the damage report that’s come in since the day they made the mistake of trusting Reuth Giapain. The bomb delivered, sure, but no one could foresaw the coming of a fourth overflow so soon after the third one had just finished. There were more than just the inert elements that came in with the tide, and they feasted on both Trisakti’s enemies as well as his allies. Even now, the cleanup proceeded slowly, as lesser powers sought to overthrow their betters by any means necessary.

“A break. Needed. Urgent.” The head engrossed with the glow of screens said as it pulled back and rested on a waiting pillow.

“I agree. We haven’t slept for a week now.” The head that was pouring through two books at once said with eyes bloodshot and raw.

“Fine. We’ll take a nap. But first, we’ve already scheduled a meeting with her.” The middle head spoke in an almost whisper.

“…Unavoidable. Proceed.”

“…Let’s get this over with.”

“Good. Clarantino? You can let her in now.” Trisakti’s middle head spoke to his secretary.

“Right away, sir. She’s coming in now.” Just as she said it, the teleporter to Trisakti’s office hummed to life. A little girl stepped out of it, wearing a simple blue and white dress. Her hair was cut short, but neatly, like the bell of a jellyfish. She had a bagpack on her back almost as big as she was, and filled to the brim. Her eyes lit up as she saw Trisakti, and with a skip and a small run, came up to him and gave him a big hug.

“Hi Daddy! I’ve missed you so much!” The little girl spoke cheerfully as Trisakti’s heads regarded their daughter with fatherly love. “Guess what they had us do today at school!”

“““ What? “““ The three heads asked at the same time.

“Paintings! We painted lots, and I even made a big one with the others too. Wanna see it?” The girl turned around and began rummaging through her backpack for something when a hand gently stopped her.

“I’d like to meet your sisters, Sri.” Trisakti’s middle head spoke with surprising tenderness. “It has been a while since our last meeting.”

“Oh.” Sri’s enthusiasm deflated upon hearing her father’s requests, the girl placing her hands behind her back and shifting from foot to foot. “I don’t know if they want to see you right now, Daddy. They got pretty mad at what you tried to do last time.” Regret flashed through Trisakti’s heads as the memory in question came to their minds, but they shook it off and powered through.

“…Understand. But still, meeting necessary. Have plans to discuss.” The left head spoke while avoiding Sri’s eyes.

“There have been a lot of changes happening lately. Small changes, but as the wave goes, it’s only a matter of time before it swells into a tide that takes everything away.” The right head fared somewhat better, focusing their gaze at Sri’s soft hair.

“I would sooner burn everything to the ground than let you get taken away from me, not after what’s happened… to your mother.” The middle head lowered itself and placed its forehead against his daughter’s own. “I know I have many faults, but you and your sisters are the few things I have left that I did right.”

“““ Which is why I’m sorry for doing… this. “““ Sri’s eyes widened in alarm as she saw her father throwing something towards her. It rolled and bumped against her feet, beeping once before it exploded, consuming the room in a wave of blinding light. Just outside the room, Trisakti’s secretary watched with mild interest as the explosion tried and failed to escape the confines of her boss’ office.

“Daddy?! What was that?!” Sri spoke at an almost shout as she touched her face and tried to feel if she was hurt in any way. She was no longer alone though, as two new figures flanked her right and left, respectively. One towered above the little girl, the imperceptible scowl on her serene face matched with the blazing heat and cold washing out of the orbs on the woman’s shoulders. The other was dragon-like, with limbs flexed and ready to pounce upon Trisakti with claws and fangs aplenty, among other things.

“Hello, Daddy.” The tall one spoke with dripping venom. “So you’ve finally decided to pick up your slack and start being a parent again? It might work for little Sri, but I’m hardly at the age where I care anymore about what you want for me.”

“I. HATE. YOU.” The draconic one said her piece simply.

The one left standing shifted from foot to foot, torn between wanting to side with her sisters and helping out her beloved father. The little girl opted for the safe option and stared at her feet. All the while, the world in the office seemed at a standstill, beams of light frozen midpath and the most basic part of magic popping in and out of existence.

“””Lula. Niki. Sri. I need your help in retrieving something of mine. It’s a part of a godling that passed through here not long ago, and now someone from your school has it. I want you to figure out who has it, where is it located, and if possible, bring it back to me. In exchange, I will listen to one request for anything—within reason—from each of you. I swear on the name of your mother that I will uphold this promise.“”” Trisakti’s heads spoke as one, three pairs of eyes looking at three pairs of eyes.

“Okay Daddy!” Sri replied with glee, only to be brought to the side by her sisters.

“Sri, why did you say that?! We have to stick together and not give in to the old man!” Lula poked at her little sister’s right cheek.

“Daddy. Mean. Buttface.” Niki brought up a claw to poke at Sri’s left cheek, but thought better of it and decided to use one of her smaller tentacles instead.

“But Daddy is getting better! He’s really trying now!” Sri pouted as she waved off her older sisters’ pokings. “I want us to get along again, like when Mommy was with us!”

A complicated look passed Lula’s face, while guilt flashed through Niki’s own. The two older sisters had many reasons to despise their father, and not even time could heal the wounds the two still had in their hearts. With the age gap between the two of them and their youngest sister, the role of ‘mother’ was one Lula and Niki played often and without hesitation. Indeed, were it not for Sri, the older sisters would’ve gone with the wind and made their own lives elsewhere. It wasn’t like their father had any interest in looking after the ones that cost him his wife.

But now things were changing, and this latest meeting was the nail in the coffin. However things were going to be between Trisakti and his daughters, the man was determined to make amends with at least one of them. The hate warred with the hope inside Lula, and the same conflict raged inside Niki to a lesser degree. Finally, a small sigh escaped the eldest and middle child, and they turned around and faced their father with determination.

“…I’m not opposed to the idea, Father.” Lula spoke with as little emotion as possible.

“…Will. Assist. Sri.” Niki spoke with less restraint, but managed to tone down her emotion to a low growl that came from her throat.

“Yay! We’re getting the band back together!” Sri said while doing her best to hug both her sisters together.

“””The mission details will be forwarded to you at a later date. Thank you… girls. Clarantino will see you out now.””” Trisakti snapped his fingers and the strange energy that was halting time broke, filling the office once more with the hum and buzz of entropy. The teleporter flared to life and Sri stepped into it, her sisters strangely absent from sight. The little girl waved goodbye to her father, and Trisakti, for the first time in a while, cracked a smile and waved back.