I reached into my pocket and pulled out my old holocaster, chunky, fragile, and metallic grey instead of wafer thin, strong, and matte white and blue like the Beta Generals was.
"Hey Sonara," I said, speaking the command word to awaken the device. "Show me the rankings of Kaylee Janix among the two thousand people in the competition."
The device began to whirr, struggling to acces the data I so desperately desired from the rundown connection in the house. It beeped, showing the status of the competitors. It scanned down the list, and then...
"Oh my gosh! Lee! You're number eighty six! You're in the top one hundred!" Val said, squealing and jumping up and down beside me. I turned to her with worry that she was out of bed, and then she slumped to the floor, coughing. She held a raggedy, splotchy brown square of fabric to her mouth, and began coughing into that.
"Val! Honey, are you all right?" I asked, quickly falling to my knees to cradle her against my chest. I held her like any stray gust of wind or loud shout would send her flying into pieces. However, I knew that beneath that fragile exterior she was strong.
Stronger than anyone gave her credit for, really, even Holden and I. Val smiled weakly at me, a look that was probably meant to be reassuring, but only ended up worrying me further, seeing as it looked more akin to a pain filled grimace rather than a confidence boosting grin.
"It's alright Lee, actually-" she got cut off by a bout of coughing that racked her small frame with trembling shudders. Her coughing fit stopped and Holden snatched the cloth away from her hands with anger and worry in his eyes.
"You just coughed up blood, Val," he said with worry in his tone. Val chuckled weakly at that.
"Yeah, nothin' new big bro. I mean, this is the third square I've gone through this week," she said with a sardonic laugh. She held out the square of fabric that she wanted us to inspect, and sure enough, the splotchy brown coloring was in fact dried blood, and it cracked and slightly chipped away as I crumpled it up in my palm. When I opened the fist I had made with my hand around the fabric, I could see that, actually, it was a grayish-white color.
"Hey, Val," I said gently, wrapping her up in my arms as I looked down at her. "I think I know something that will cheer you up. Do you want to do it right now with me?" I asked. She looked up at me and nodded.
"Hey Sonora, pull up clothing websites for teens and young adults," I said. I turned back to my meager family, the only people I had left in this world, and grinned at them. "Shopping time! I mean, we could all use some new clothes," I said. Val smiled eagerly and hugged me, while Holden just ran a hand down his face.
"Goddess... why me," he groaned, sighing with a resigned look on his face. I glared at him. "Wha-ha, no I was... just... joking? Joking. I love shopping! Ha... haha." He glared at me, and mouthed 'Why.'