Chapter 17: Family (2)
The Blackwoods' theatre room glowed in soft, cinematic light, the giant flat-screen dominating one wall while plush seats, velvet carpets, and soundproofing gave the space a warm, commanding feel. Ava stood near the console, her hands resting lightly on the control panel, while Cream Puff hovered beside her, emitting tiny sparks of light in anticipation. The room was quiet for once, except for the hum of the air conditioning and the soft clicking of buttons as the others logged in from across the city.
"One screen to rule them all," Zephyr muttered, bouncing slightly on the edge of his seat. He gestured at the flat screen with exaggerated ceremony. "No laptops, no tablets. Only this glorious monstrosity. It's perfect."
Brian chuckled. "About time. I couldn't even see half the spreadsheets on my phone. This is civilization."
Kael, ever the stoic one, folded his arms and leaned against the wall. "It's still a video call. Don't get sentimental."
Lyra and Alyssa shared a quick grin, elbowing each other. "Sentimental is necessary," Lyra said. "We're talking apocalypse prep here. You need drama for strategy."
Ava pressed a button, and the screen flickered to life. One by one, each family appeared in their respective frames: the Stormbringers in their sleek, minimalist living room, Brian's parents in a study lined with books and charts, the Slades in their ultra-modern penthouse, and the Emberlys already half-arguing in their sunlit atrium. Theodore Slade was perched in the corner of the Slade frame, smirking as usual.
The room erupted in noise immediately. Parents talking over one another, kids yelling in the background, someone in the Emberly household muttering about a misplaced medical file. Ava pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Welcome, everyone," she said, raising a hand. "Can we please—just for five minutes—try to hear each other?"
"Oh, honey," Claire Blackwood said with a chuckle, appearing from her own frame, "you've clearly never tried to coordinate a family reunion with the Slades involved."
Oriana Slade waved from her corner. "Exactly. We'll follow your rules for approximately thirty seconds before chaos reigns again. But it will be glorious chaos."
Ava groaned but smiled. Cream Puff floated higher, projecting tiny motes of light across the room, as if shushing everyone.
"Alright," Matteo Blackwood said, "let's cut to the point. What exactly are we discussing?"
Brian leaned forward, clearing his throat. "We—well, the kids—thought it would be better if each family understood the resources and industries everyone brings. That way, we can coordinate for… you know, survival strategy."
Davis Slade clapped his hands together. "Finally, a sensible opening. Let's hear it, children. Zephyr, start with your flashy family finance empire."
Zephyr puffed up, grinning at the camera. "Gladly. Slades are money. Big, actual money. Investments, international banking, hedge funds, gold, crypto—you name it. If it exists and it's valuable, we own some portion. And that gives us leverage, of course, to fund anything else we need."
Theodore rolled his eyes in the corner. "Don't inflate it too much, little brother. People might get ideas."
Oriana leaned in, her eyes sharp. "Ideas are exactly what we need. Funding, hiring personnel, trading resources. The Slades can move capital faster than anyone else in this little… impending apocalypse scenario."
Ava nodded, scribbling notes mentally. "Got it. Finance handled. Slades can fund supply runs, factories, and maybe even security contracts if needed."
Kael's father, George Stormbringer, straightened. "Finance is great, but money can't fight. That's where we come in." He gestured to his own frame. "Stormbringers, military contractors. Security, personnel, tactical planning, defense systems. If anything goes sideways—riots, looters, hostile groups—we handle it. Discipline, strategy, and yes, a fair amount of firepower."
Kael leaned into the camera. "Dad's saying that nothing moves without military oversight. So, don't test us."
Lyra snickered. "And nothing happens without the Slades funding it. Interesting combo already."
Alyssa nodded. "Next," she said, pointing to their screen, "Emberlys. Mom, Dad, your turn."
Ariana Emberly leaned forward, her hands clasped. "Medicine. Health care. Biotech. Hospitals, research labs, pharmaceuticals. If anyone gets sick, or we need emergency treatments, that's our domain. We'll make sure everyone stays alive long enough to do the other stuff."
Oliver Emberly added, "We also have emergency response teams in place and medical logistics networks. Think of us as a mobile hospital, ready to move where needed."
Lyra added, "And data. Lots of health data. We can track epidemics, crop diseases, anything remotely biological."
Ava smiled. "Got it. Medical and health. Critical. Next up, the Blackwoods."
Claire Blackwood leaned into the screen. "Agriculture and food production, of course. Farms, storage, supply chains, warehouses. We make sure no one starves before the apocalypse hits or even during it. And thanks to the kids' new system, we already have a huge head start."
Matteo added, "We also have sustainable agriculture tech. Crops that can grow with minimal inputs. Livestock operations. Long-term planning for large populations."
Brian leaned in. "And transport?" he asked.
"Logistics!" Liam Lakspur spoke up from his study frame. "We handle the movement of goods. Shipping, cargo, fleets, ground and air transport. We can move anything from Blackwood farms to Emberly hospitals, or finance resources to the Slades' operations, wherever it's needed."
Brian grinned. "So that's my family. We literally move everything."
Kael chuckled. "Alright, let me get this straight. Blackwoods feed us, Emberlys heal us, Lakspurs move things, Slades pay for it all, and Stormbringers… keep us from dying violently?"
"Exactly," Zephyr said. "The dream team."
"Don't forget, we're rich," Alyssa added. "We can also throw in redundancies, backups, private security, and luxury while we're at it."
The room erupted in laughter, some from relief, some from the absurdity of how much privilege they were leveraging for apocalypse prep. Even the adults chuckled, shaking their heads at their children's tendency to make everything sound dramatic.
"Alright," Ava said, raising a hand. "Now that everyone knows the basics, we need a strategy. First priority: resource mapping. What's where, who controls it, and how to move it if necessary. Second priority: supply runs. Decide routes, timing, and responsibilities."
Oriana Slade raised an eyebrow. "I'm assuming the Slades fund the first runs. No exceptions."
"Naturally," Zephyr said with a grin.
"Don't forget communication," Lyra said. "We need a secure channel for updates, alerts, and coordination. No one moves without notifying the others. That's non-negotiable."
"Agreed," Oliver Emberly said. "And we'll track health and safety metrics as well. We'll need reports after each run, just to make sure everything functions smoothly."
Kael added, "And security. Stormbringers will plan contingencies. Any hostile interference, we neutralize or avoid it. We won't take unnecessary risks."
Ava took a deep breath. "Good. Now, here's the big decision. All of you have to come together in one location soon—physically. The video calls are good, but coordination is difficult if we're fragmented. Blackwoods' estate has space, the theatre room, and storage for planning and supplies. It's decided—we meet there for a full strategy summit."
The adults leaned closer, some nodding, some smirking. Davis Slade rubbed his hands together. "Finally. I've been waiting for this. Face-to-face chaos is always more fun."
Claire Blackwood laughed. "We'll make arrangements. Everyone will stay safe, and it'll be productive. Besides, we need to see these young masters in action."
Kael shook his head. "Don't get excited. You'll just create more work for yourselves."
"Pfft," Zephyr scoffed. "Like you won't enjoy it. Admit it, you've been secretly planning your empire expansion while we were sleeping."
The room erupted again in laughter and chatter. Plans for travel, accommodations, and initial supply runs began to form organically, overlapping and chaotic in the best way. Maps were pulled up, calendars compared, resources listed, and contingencies discussed. Even Theodore Slade, still lounging in his chair, offered suggestions, occasionally punctuated with jokes at Zephyr's expense.
"This is going to be fun," Alyssa whispered to Lyra, who only rolled her eyes but smiled. "Yes, fun," Lyra replied. "Because apocalypse prep is naturally a party when your family is this over-the-top."
Ava watched the giant flat-screen, scanning each family's frame, absorbing their energy. This wasn't just a meeting. It was the beginning of a coordinated, unstoppable network. A family coalition that, together, could survive and thrive through anything.
The hours passed. Discussions circled back, repeated, and evolved. The families debated routes for supply runs, prioritized which resources needed immediate attention, and brainstormed ways to integrate the QQ Farm system's outputs into long-term plans. Hints of humor threaded through every serious suggestion, from Zephyr quipping about buying "apocalypse insurance" to Mia Stormbringer insisting the kids wear matching tactical vests just in case.
By the time the meeting was nearing its first formal pause, the theatre room was filled with scribbled notes, digital projections, and a sense of structured chaos. Every family had contributed, and though the call had lasted hours, the team had achieved something remarkable: alignment.
Ava exhaled, letting herself lean back in the plush seat. Cream Puff hovered beside her, glowing faintly, as if proud of the orchestration. "We're really doing this," she said softly.
Lyra smirked. "Yes. And we haven't even set foot in the Blackwoods' estate yet."
Brian grinned. "That's next. Face-to-face. Supply runs. Real strategy. Chaos amplified by a hundred."
Kael's eyes gleamed. "And I suppose we'll survive it all because we actually planned instead of panicked. For once, Zephyr, you're helpful."
Zephyr laughed. "I've always been helpful. You just didn't notice because of my dazzling personality."
The screen flickered as the last topics were wrapped, but Ava already knew this was just the beginning. The families had the resources, the brains, and the drive. Supply runs, coordination, farm outputs, medical logistics, finance, and security—the pieces were all in place.
And soon, they would all be together under one roof. The Blackwoods' estate would host a summit no one would forget.
The apocalypse might still be a year away, but this coalition of second-generation masters and mistresses.