1.2 Family - Old and New (Abe)
Abe then remembered the other problem with Jayne coming in. For his family it had been months of time for him to change, but for Jayne it would have been just a week. He couldn't tell her an outright lie, both due to his general inability to do so and how well she knew him. So, he went with not lying... but also not telling the full truth. "I can't tell you that it was an experiment I volunteered for and that only qualified for because of my rather unusual genetics. I also can't tell you who did it, but I can tell you that there are no foreseen negative side effects from it, though I may, unfortunately, have to suffer the attention of women due to my extreme prettiness." He concluded with a smirk and a wink.
He thought a moment and looked around to make sure no one else was paying them any attention. At least beyond what he was starting to get used to getting, or within earshot. When sure he had privacy, he added with complete sincerity, "Seriously, though the NDA is super strict - far beyond even what it was when I was on deployment - so please don't poke into it. I didn't know that we're half-siblings and you don't have the required genes and couldn't be a part of it when I called you, or I wouldn't have mentioned anything at all. Hopefully, within the next couple of years I'll be able to speak a little more openly about it. But or now, it's a no-go. If you knew anymore than what I've said, we'd be better of if we'd committed actual treason because at least then there's due process. It's been months since mom and dad have seen me, so I was able to pass off the change in appearance as lifestyle changes and reduced stress since I get to wrap up at night in my DD214 blanket."