Baby Primarchs: Baby Sitter

"What if something happens?" the Emperor asked.
"They'll be just fine," Malcador said. "You need an evening away from them."
"They're so small still," the Emperor insisted.
"They are," Malcador admitted. "However, that should make it easier for the serf. There's nothing to worry about."
"I've never been away from them though," the Emperor said.
"They will be fine," Malcador said. He was trying to be supportive, but his patience was wearing thin. He was working on getting the Emperor away from the Primarchs for just an evening. "We're only going to be gone for a few hours."
"I know, but a lot can happen in a few hours," the Emperor said.
"I have given the serf instructions on how to get a hold of us if she needs to," Malcador said. "If something happens you will be told."
"Very well," the Emperor sighed. He knew that Malcador was right, he needed to spend some time away from the Primarchs. He had been relying on Malcador to run the Imperium while he focused solely on caring for his "newborn" sons.
"You won't regret this," Malcador said gently. "She's here."
"Hello, my lord," the babysitter said when she entered. She knelt, and stood again at the Emperor's agitated gesture. The Primarchs were in the living room, hemmed in by special baby gates. The only entrance not blocked was the one to the bedrooms.
"All twenty are here," the Emperor said. He indicated which Primarch belonged to which number.
"Can they walk, my lord?" the sitter asked.
"A bit," the Emperor said. "Nine tries to fly, but he can't yet."
"Alright," the sitter said, she looked a bit confused by that.
"There's food in the kitchen," the Emperor said. "Be careful that Six and Fourteen don't follow you in there."
"Alright," the sitter repeated, she was a bit concerned by the singling out of specific Primarchs.
"Fifteen changes shapes sometimes," the Emperor warned.
"How do I counter that?" the sitter asked.
"You have to count them," the Emperor said. "He usually changes into one of his brothers, so you'll likely have two of the same number."
"Alright," the sitter said.
"Nineteen can disappear," the Emperor said. "One can find him if that happens."
"Can they talk?" the sitter asked.
"Not yet," the Emperor said. "If you need One to find Nineteen he'll point to where his brother is."
"I think I have it," the sitter said. She made the sign of the aquilla to the Emperor and Malcador.  The two went out of the residence, the Emperor turned back to the residence before they had gone any distance.
"I can't leave them," he said to Malcador.
"Yes, you can," Malcador said, grabbing the Emperor's arm and tugging at it. If he had been anyone other than himself, he would have died for that action. However, he was Malcador the Sigillite, and was allowed some leeway. The Emperor turned and followed Malcador.

******************

They returned after playing several games of Regicide in Malcador's residence. They had not been interrupted during their games. The Emperor had been able to relax a bit and almost seemed to enjoy the last game. However, his apprehension was growing again as they approached his residence.

"Well, it's not on fire," Malcador noted dryly. The Emperor smiled at that. He tried to convince himself that his sons were fine. However, he was still concerned. They entered the residence to find the sitter on the floor in the living room, looking very terrified. There were still seventeen Primarchs in the living room despite it being past their bed time.

"What happened?" the Emperor asked.

"I have failed you greatly, my lord," the sitter said quietly.

"What happened?" the Emperor repeated his question. "Go in order."

"One is just staring into a corner," the sitter began. "He was chasing a mouse earlier. Two and Eleven vanished almost as soon as you left. Three only stopped crying once I allowed him to use a reflective pan from the kitchen to look at himself. Four and Seven have been building towers with the toys and then breaking the other one's tower. Five has been alright, but he's quick. Six slipped into the kitchen with me, and you can see the results."

With that she indicated Six, who was passed out on the floor, a bottle of synthetic alcohol next to him. Malcador hid a smile by turning his head away. The Emperor merely shook his head and gestured for the sitter to continue.

"I don't really know what Eight has been doing, though he has a knife that I can't get him to give up. Nine tried to fly and possibly hurt himself, I don't know. Ten has been helping Three use the reflective pan. Twelve is still hitting my foot."

This was true, Twelve was hitting her on the foot.

"Thirteen and Seventeen got in a squabble over a ball. Fourteen has the worst gas I have ever smelled. Fifteen shapeshifted all night. Sixteen was the only one who didn't cause me any form of trouble. Eighteen also got into the kitchen and I can't get him to stop playing with the oven. Nineteen vanished and I can't find him. He doesn't show up where One points when I ask. Twenty went to his room and hasn't come back out."

"One," the Emperor said. "Where is Nineteen?" One pointed to the corner he was staring at. "Nineteen, show yourself." Nineteen appeared in the corner, where he had been for much of the evening.

"You can go now," Malcador said to the sitter. "I'll make sure you are compensated for this."

"Yes, my lord," the sitter said. From that day forward only Malcador or Valdor babysat the Primarchs.