In This Life I Was Loved by You – 8
“You’re alive?” the question was asked by a young girl with fiery red hair that hung in a twisted mass of curls to her waist.
Shane was on his knees on the shore of the molten metal lake. He looked at the girl who stood inches from him and wondered why she wasn’t frightened. “I live.” He growled, acknowledging the girl with his words.
“We throw our dead in there, they never come back out.” She said, squatting down so she was level with Shane’s eyes.
“I’m not dead.”
“I noticed.” She snickered. “But you’re kind of made of metal now. I mean I think that your skin is metal.” She reached over and touched his arm. “Yep, definitely metal, you’re still hot.” She shook her hand, blowing on her fingers. “I guess you’ll cool down soon. Do you think when you’re cool you’ll be able to move? Or will you be kind of like a statue?”
“Go away.” Shane needed a few moments to regroup. He suspected he was on the planet called Salvation.
“Where would I go? I mean I live over there.” She pointed to a small hut fashioned from branches and rocks. “It’s not much, but it’s mine.” She cocked her head to one side. “They think I’m crazy so they let me stay here. I told them you’d be coming. I saw you coming for a long, long time. You are my salvation.” She giggled. “And you’re on Salvation.” She continued to giggle. “My name is Qrissi and you must be Shane of Sinvegas.”
“How do you know me?” Shane asked as he struggled to stand upright.
“I saw you in my dreams.” Qrissi danced out of his reach, twirling around and around making her red hair fly. “I can make tea, would you like some tea or are you just going to drink oil because you’re made of metal?”
Shane was now standing, but he could tell he was weaker than normal. The force he’d used to fight Mysterious Marilyn had drained him far more than he wanted to admit. And now this transformation of his body, he need time to regroup. “Tea will be fine Qrissi girl.” The words were said with unexpected gentleness. He began to walk toward her hovel, not sure he’d be able to make it. Strength of will alone kept him going.
“You won’t fit, you won’t fit. Sit down, sit down here on this rock. It’s a nice rock. It gets warm in the sun and makes a wonderful magical seat.” Qrissi disappeared inside.
Shane sighed and sat down. She was right; he’d never fit inside. The girl barely fit inside. He could see her bustling around though his eyes were shut and he wondered about that, not realizing his eyelids had disappeared in the molten heat. It would be something to discover later.
“Here, the tea is nice. I dried the leaves myself.” Qrissi handed Shane a roughly made pottery mug filled with steaming liquid.
“And the pottery?” he raised the mug.
“Oh, I didn’t make that.” She giggled. “My brother made the mugs.” She cocked her head to one side. “When do we leave?”
“Leave?”
“Leave, my dream said you were going to take me off this planet. I dreamed that you were going to build us a bold old ship and we were going to fly off into the sky. It was a romantic dream.”
“You find me romantic?” Shane was bemused by the girl.
“Well, you aren’t what I expected. I mean you’re much bigger than I thought. And you have scary eyes.” She admitted. “But it’s kind of cool that you’re here.”
“Cool?” Shane looked around. “An archaic descriptive word.” He drained his mug of the oddly tasting tea in one gulp. The heat of it meant nothing to him. Standing up, he stretched the kinks out of his energized muscles. “Who is the leader of this place?”
“Leader?” Qrissi thought for a moment. “I suppose Mayor Eli is the leader, but that’s just around here. Maybe it’s President Mort, but he is kind of an idiot.” She shook her head. “Or it could be Sister Nan.”
“There must be someone in charge of this god forsaken hole.” Shane mumbled. “Where is the nearest town?”
“Oh, Little Salvation is just over those hills.” She pointed over her shoulder. “But you can’t go there.”
“Why not?” Shane had begun to stride along a barely perceptible pathway in the direction she’d pointed.
“Because it’s soon going to be dark and it’s dangerous to be outside in the dark.” Qrissi glanced around the sky, shoulders hunched. “Very bad.”
“I’m bad, I’ll deal with whatever is out there.” Shane continued to walk. He could feel that he still had his magical powers and abilities he trained so hard to perfect. There really wasn’t anything he feared. Even the witch, Mysterious Marilyn, wasn’t anyone Shane feared. The fact that the man had managed to send him to Salvation, didn’t mean he was to be feared. Shane was sure that his power was much stronger than Marilyn’s. Had Emmett not tossed the mirror, Shane would have blasted the witch into oblivion. The sun was almost below the horizon; he walked slowly and steadily on, looking neither left or right. Through his peripheral vision, the utter desolation of the place took on a different view. He could see where the inhabitants had begun to care for their surroundings, plowing fields, making straight fences and odd shaped flower beds. What had been a hell like none other the last time he’d been on this particular planet, many years before had changed here and there to show that something good could be made from something bad. He wondered if something good could also be made from the inherent evil that lurked just below the surface of the planet.
Shane could feel the evil, he fed off the force, and gaining strength with each step he took. He knew when the evil reached the surface, breaking free of its earthly bonds to sail through the night air. He looked up, eyes not seeing the brilliant stars, but seeing instead the ghostly shapes of evil that roamed the night air. Ethereal shapes that had grown a life of their own from the forces of horror that had been Salvation at the beginning of its term as a prison planet.
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Twice during his second watch, Justin had used Keisha’s eyes and his own instincts to take the Siddhartha through a maze of Federation spies. They were everywhere and only by being able to alter the small ship’s trail and hold onto its cloaking, was Justin able to keep them hidden.
The worst part of these four hour watches, was the fact that he couldn’t let his mind wander for a moment from the task at hand. This meant he couldn’t think of Brian. Keisha knew and understood what he was feeling. For that Justin was grateful, he couldn’t tell Ben or Michael, they wouldn’t understand.
Ben may have had some empathy with how he felt. He, after all, knew about love in all its forms. He understood that two souls could be entwined for eternity. It was a rare occurrence, but it did happen. Some legends say that everyone has that special person, but reality says that it’s not often they find one another. Ben loved his partner Michael, and Michael returned that love, but it wasn’t the same kind of love that Justin and Brian had together. That kind of love was unique and Ben understood that.
Michael on the other hand couldn’t perceive the kind of love Brian and Justin shared. He knew that Justin said he loved his friend, but he also loved his cat Keisha. Michael couldn’t differentiate between the two kinds of affection.
“Hey.” Ben came onto the deck. He handed Justin a cup of steaming coffee. “thought you might like something warm.”
“Thanks, Keisha tries to keep me warm, but she can only do so much.” Justin laughed. “Damn, I wish we could turn up the heat.” They were keeping the ship cool in order to help with the cloaking. That, and only using basic life support all helped in eluding those who were looking for them. Justin turned to Ben, though he couldn’t see him, “I know we’re getting closer to Brian. I can feel him. It’s hard to explain, but he’s kind of like a homing beam.”
“I envy you your love.” Ben’s voice was soft. He walked to the main console to check their headings. “I’ve known Brian for a long time. I never suspected he’d find this kind of love. Brian, well Brian has something of a reputation as I’m sure you’re aware. He won’t be easy to love.”
“Nothing is ever easy.” Justin shrugged. “Nothing that is, except loving Brian. That’s easy.”
“I just don’t want you to go into this relationship with Brian Kinney not knowing his background.” Ben began again.
“Ben, stop. Brian and I… well, we’re married under Clan Kyllo law.” Justin pulled his marriage necklace out from under his shirt. “If you don’t mind, keep this to yourself.” His finger’s caressed the center of the amulet, shutting his eyes unconsciously as he felt Brian’s life essence. Opening them again he smiled up at the taller man, who flushed under the guileless stare of warm blue eyes that could see things no one else could.
“You.. you’re married.” Ben’s voice was filled with awe. Suddenly things were made more clear. The urgency to find Brian increased. Ben knew that the Kyllo prophesy was something they believed in as did the Kitwanga. The union between Brian and Justin would strengthen the world for those who wanted to reverse the destruction of the planet Earth. And it would break the hold the Peterson’s had, that together with a few others, had done their best to turn the world into a wasteland for a few more dollars.
Justin didn’t need to look into Ben’s mind to know what the man was thinking. He knew instinctively that he’d have an ally in the strong-minded Captain of the Siddhartha. “Thanks for the coffee Ben. Keisha and I are going to refresh ourselves and then sleep while we can.”
“And dream of Brian?” Ben asked with a chuckle.
“Are there any other kinds of dreams?” Justin answered as he disappeared with Keisha through the hatch that led to his quarters.
Justin continued to smile to himself as he walked just behind Keisha. It wasn’t far to his cabin, the ship was small.
“Why don’t you use our replicator?” Michael asked. He’d appeared as if from no where on Justin’s right.
Turning toward Michael’s voice, Justin answered. “I’m in need of nothing at the moment Michael.”
“You have to eat. Your cat” the word, a sneer. “Has to eat.”
“Yes we do, but we aren’t hungry at the moment.” Justin tried to smile. He knew that jealousy prompted most of Michael’s outbursts, but some were harder to take than others. Maybe he was just tired of listening to the perpetual whine. “Though I just had a coffee, it tasted like Kenya beans.”
“Ben made that for you. It’s the flavor he uses.”
“Yes, it was nice of your partner to think of me.” Justin started to turn away. “I’m tired, I’ll see you later.”
“Look at me when I’m talking to you.” Michael put his hand on Justin’s shoulder to turn him back when suddenly he found himself on the floor of the ship, an angry Keisha, lips turned back, sharp teeth gleaming with saliva that dripped on his chest, straddling his body.
“I’m sorry Michael, Keisha takes exception to anyone touching me in anger.” Justin’s voice was mild. “Keisha, apologize to Michael for your behavior.”
Father, this one needs to learn the lessons taught a kitten. I would only bite him enough so that he was aware he does wrong.”
“Enough Keisha, no biting.” Justin warned, but he had to smile when Keisha’s rough tongue licked Michael’s face with sandpaper roughness, making the smaller man yelp in pain. “There Michael, Keisha gave you a kitty kiss in apology.” Though Justin knew the big cat was actually tasting Michael’s essence.
“Get this monster off me. I’m going to have Ben put it in a cage where it can’t hurt anyone.” Michael ranted as he struggled to his feet, pushing at the immovable big cat.
“I would advise that you get over your animosity toward myself and Keisha. It is we who will find your friend and his passengers. Brian and I will be reunited, but then so will you and he. This mission works many ways.” Justin signaled Kiesha with his hand, palmed his code into his door lock and stepped inside with the great cat, leaving Michael standing alone in the corridor wondering what he’d managed to glimpse inside. It looked nothing like the ships cabins were supposed to.
Inside, Justin stripped off his clothing as he walked to the bed. He needed the comfort of his womb like cocoon he’d fashioned from silk pillows and down filled comforters. It wasn’t what he wanted, Brian’s arms around his body, but it would do for the dreams and fantasies he’d weave of the man he loved. Of the man he was tied to in the destinies of yesteryear and onward.
Justin’s eyes were shut, but he watched through Keisha’s eyes as the large cat used his bathroom facilities, drank his fill of water and then begin to stalk his prey. It may have been a space ship, but it was still a ship and as such, subject to rats and other vermin as were ships of old that sailed the seven seas of earth.
No rat lived long when venturing into Justin’s cabin or anywhere else the blond traveled on the ship. If Michael wasn’t so fearful of Keisha, Justin would have let her roam the entire vessel on her own. She’d traveled with him so often that the big cat knew how to access closed doors and hidden passages. She had a finely tuned dexterity in the claws of her paws. It was something Justin liked to keep to himself, for Keisha was able to move into rooms no one ever thought possible for the big cat to be.
He rolled over on his bed, content that Keisha was occupied. He had the time now to think of Brian, to dream of him, fantasize, and with luck to reach the other man’s mind. But first Justin wanted two seconds of time with him, two seconds to see the man he loved, two seconds to brush his lips against Brian’s and drink in his smell. Then he’d dream and fantasize.
Fingers traced the words written on the watch, before opening it for his allotted seconds. Justin found himself inches from Brian’s face looking into startled hazel eyes that glowed with love when he realized Justin was so close. Justin leaned forward and brushed his lips across Brian’s, his tongue out slightly to taste. “I love you.” He whispered as Brian faded from his view and Justin’s fingers closed the watch.
Brian’s fingers rose and touched his lips. He shook his head, had Justin been here for a second or two and kissed him, or was he going crazy? Yet he could feel Justin’s lips, taste the taste of his mouth, remember the whispered words that filled his heart.
“Brian, what are you doing?” Melanie whined. “We’ve been waiting here forever for you and all you’re doing is staring off into space.”
“Fuck, you’re getting whinier than your partner.” Brian growled, hating that the woman had interrupted him. “What the fuck do you want now?”
“I told you, we want to get into the main console of the ship. I know there’s things in there we can use, but I’ve tried everything and can’t get the door open.”
“Good, I don’t want you pirating my ship.” Brian turned away from his thoughts and back to Melanie. He suspected Zuni had something to do with keeping the women out of his private space, including the cockpit. He had no trouble accessing either.
It was one of the first things he’d done when he’d returned from the Noorn, remove to return to his ship to get himself mentally grounded from all he’d seen and heard. His private quarters were not only in as good a shape as when he’d last flown, but were better than ever before. Anything that had broken during the crash was now repaired and everything was clean and ship shape. It was the same for the main deck. All the equipment was repaired and in good working order. So good that Brian wondered if he could fly the damn thing. Reggi did a once over and assured him that the repairs were great, but not good enough for interstellar travel.
“Brian, your responsibility as the captain of this ship, is to look after your passengers. The Federation is very clear on that in their code of conduct.”
“And tell me Melanie, just what the fuck do you expect I’m supposed to do? Apparently you haven’t noticed but we’re on a planet that isn’t part of the Federation. It doesn’t have your partner’s daddy waiting in the wings and thank God for that. I’m sure he’s the one responsible for our little predicament.”
“You’ve been different since you came back from your exploration trip.”
“I’ve got things to think about.” Brian mumbled, wishing she’d disappear. “Let’s just say, hypothetically, that you and Lindsay would be able to have your wish and get pregnant. Would you both be willing to give up a few hundred or so of your eggs in trade for this pregnancy?”
“Are you serious?” she asked.
“Well, it doesn’t seem to bother you in the least having me give up my sperm.” Brian shrugged. “I figured it was a reasonable question.”
“What would you do with our eggs?” she had to ask. What he was asking made no sense to her. Why would Brian Kinney care about their eggs?”
“It’s a question Mel, just answer it.” Brian turned away from her. He wasn’t about to go into the ship with the woman following him.
“Is it a serious question?”
“For fuck sake, it’s a question.” Brian snarled. “I’m going to lie down. I found some good ganja growing not far from here and I feel the need to get in touch with my inner boy.” Snickering, he began to jog toward the Gloinzen village and his hut. He had to get back. He was sure he could feel Justin in his head. It wasn’t a full-blown conversation but it was a word here and there. If he smoked up and relaxed, maybe his, his husband could get through to him. Brian smiled to himself at the thought that Justin was his husband. His friends were going to freak.
Melanie watched Brian disappear into the jungle like forest before turning back to the ship. She was determined to get into his cabin, sure that he had hidden supplies in there he wasn’t telling them about. Trudging through the thick sand, she felt like her feet were heavier and heavier. It was almost like she had rocks tied to each foot. In fact it was Zuni and her friend who sat on Melanie’s feet, riding them like a horse, just slightly out of sync with the dimension they were in so that Mel couldn’t see them and the weight of the two Gloinzen increased ten fold.
“Lindsay, get over here, something’s wrong with this sand.” Melanie hollered at Lindsay who was studying her nails while sitting on an upturned float from one of the escape pods.
“The sand is the same as it’s always been.” Lindsay got up and walked slowly toward Melanie. “I thought we were going to get some things from Brian’s cabin today.”
“We are, help me open this door. I told you not to close it.” Melanie was doing her best to open the door they usually accessed. “Fuck, it isn’t opening.”
“Maybe it’s stuck.” Lindsay offered. “I’m hot and I’m sick of living like this. My daddy will make sure Brian never flies again.”
“Your daddy probably had something to do with this crash.” Melanie mumbled through gritted teeth as she worked on the door. “The more I think about it, the more I think Brian is right. Your father controls a lot of things and works closely with the Federation. My father always said follow the money when something goes wrong. Your father wants to control your stock in his company.”
“Mel, how can you say such horrible things about my father.”
“Brian thinks he has a way for you to have a baby.” Melanie blurted out. “But he wants us to give up some of our eggs.”
“Eggs? We don’t haven any eggs?” Lindsay looked confused.
“Of course we have eggs. How the fuck do you think you get pregnant. Your little egg gets fertilized by one of the man’s little swimmers. In this case, Brian’s or whatever it is he has in mind. Or should I say whoever he has in mind.” Sometimes Lindsay’s dumb blond thing made Melanie want to scream.
“We need to find Brian. I want to have a baby.” Lindsay looked around as if Brian was going to suddenly appear.
“Linds, did you hear what I said? He wants us to trade a baby for our eggs.” Melanie stood facing Lindsay, hands on her hips.
“I heard you. I don’t have a problem with that. I mean it’s not like we’re going to use them all. We only really need one or two.” Lindsay shrugged. “Is Brian going to be the father?”
“Apparently not.” Melanie wasn’t going to argue with Lindsay about their eggs. It wasn’t worth it right now.
“Well who is?”
“I don’t know. Brian said he’d get back to us.” She paused “Do you think he’s found other humans on this planet? He was gone for a couple of weeks.”
“That’s got to be it. He’s found someone else. We can be saved and go back home and we can have a baby.” Lindsay’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “Can we go and find them? Or should we wait for Brian.”
“I’m not waiting for Kinney. Of course we’re going to find them on our own. We’ll leave first thing tomorrow.”
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“I’m dreaming.” Brian sighed deeply in his sleep. “I’m dreaming.”
“I told you we would see each other in your dreams.” Justin smiled, allowing his smile to warm Brian’s heart. It was the only way he could get through to the other man’s mind. A sleeping Brian was a Brian who lowered his guard just enough for Justin’s powers to break through. “I miss you every second of the day.” Justin whispered, his face buried in Brian’s neck. He loved the smell of the other man. It was a heady aphrodisiac.
“I see you in the shadow of the moon. I reach for you, but you’re not there.” Brian shuddered. “I’ve never felt like this before, lost and alone. I’ve been on my own since I was a teen, but even at my worst times, I’ve never felt the way I do when you aren’t in my arms.”
“Brian?”
“I can say what I want, it’s my dream.”
“You are never alone, you are never lost to me.” Justin let the words fill Brian’s mind over and over until he could see the acceptance in the man’s eyes. “I’ll always be with you, never forget that.”
“In my dreams, you’re always in my dreams. There are days I would prefer to stay in bed begging to sleep so that I might dream of you.”
Justin’s heart ached for the loneliness of the man he loved. “Brian, Brian I’m going to find you. I promise you that.”
“You can’t, you can’t promise me something like that.” Brian sighed and rolled over in his sleep. “I’m going to allow something done that I would never have contemplated before. If I can’t have you in my arms, I can at least have your child. I can raise him to know the man you are. He’ll be a legacy to the Kyllo, he’ll be a legacy to you.”
Justin was surprised to hear Brian say this. “Brian, the Gloinzen don’t have a way for you to have my child do they?”
“As if I’d let my figure go to hell to carry a child.” Brian chuckled. “No, there isn’t going to be any miracle pregnancy. But there will be a child. I need this Justin. I need something to focus on, to hold, to love. It’s never been a priority before, but now for some reason it is.”
“I wish I could read you.” Justin sighed. “The best I can do at this distance is be with you while you dream.”
“It’s enough for now.” Brian was sure he could feel Justin’s breath on his neck.
“We’ve left the Federation spy ships behind, though I know they’ll be searching for us. I can still feel the trail your ship left behind so I know I’m on the right track.”
“It’s a big universe out there.” Brian whispered. “And this planet has been perceptually altered to discourage drop in visitors.”
“I’ll never stop searching.” Justin managed before he was pulled away from his contact with Brian.
“Justin, get out here, we need your help.” Michael’s voice demanded over the ship com, waking the blond. Keisha growled deep in her throat as Justin sat up.
“Now what?” Justin mumbled, stumbling to his feet. He needed a quick shower to wake up.
“NOW, JUSTIN, NOW.” Michael screamed.
“I’m coming.” Justin said into the ship com, his voice quiet but steady. “No time for a shower Keisha.” He grumbled, pulling on the clothing he so recently discarded. “Ewwww.” Two rat tails lay across the end of the bed. Keisha was beaming at them proudly.
Keisha caught snack food. the big cat did her version of a snicker. She knew Justin hated when she gave him trophies but it was a necessary part of the ritual hunt.
“Great Keish” Justin absently rubbed her between the ears as they hurried through the corridor to the forward deck. “What’s wrong?” he asked, startling Michael and Ben. He knew it couldn’t be the Federation.
“Your, your, monster thing.” Michael stuttered, pointing to a screen in front of him. Keisha had been recorded during her hunt by the ship’s computer. “That thing murdered Alphi.” He turned to Ben. “And ate him.”
“Alphi?” Justin looked puzzled. “Who’s Alphi? I thought we were on a restricted crew.”
“He was Michael’s pet rat.” Ben muttered. “He wasn’t really a pet, just a rat that Michael’s been feeding even though he’s been told not to more times than I can count.”
“He wasn’t a rat. He was a pedigreed raticualus from Sirian. He has papers.”
“No shit.” Justin bit the inside of his lip to stop laughing. “He should have shown them to Keisha ‘cause as far as she was concerned he was a snack.” He turned to Michael and Ben, his hand still on Keisha’s head. “Look guys, I’m sorry, and if Keisha knew she’d eaten a pet, well she wouldn’t really care. But I have taught her better than that. She never eats dogs or house cats. She just didn’t know a rat could be a pet. I mean they aren’t generally pets, especially not on star ships. They eat through the wiring and destroy cargo. Not to mention the hygienic aspects of having a vibrant rat population aboard ship. Keisha has been taught to clean them up when she can. That way she gets exercise and something besides replicator meals.”
“I want that monster jettisoned into space.” Michael demanded. “I told you it shouldn’t be allowed on board.”
“Michael, that isn’t going to happen.” Ben began.
“I’m sorry Keisha ate your rat.” Justin began. “But listen to me and listen very, very carefully, Keisha will not be harmed. Not now, not ever by you or anyone you know or I swear by all that’s in the Kyllo Clan, you will not live out the day my Keisha is harmed.” Justin turned on his heel and left the forward deck. Ben could deal with his partner, Justin had had enough.
Inside Justin’s room, the man began to pace. He’d known taking Keisha with him was going to be a strain, but he needed her loyalty and protection. It was something that no one seemed to realize; just how vulnerable Justin was when he was away from his home. He needed to keep all of his wits about him just to survive. Right now, Keisha looked after him physically, Brian emotionally.
Now he had time to go over Brian’s words to him. A child, Brian wanted a child? It was an unusual request, but one that was kind of sweet. Justin knew his father would approve and so would the ancestors. He wondered if Brian was somehow going to mix their DNA and have the resulting embryo carried by one of the women. It seemed like a far-fetched idea considering the animosity they all felt for one another.
It was time perhaps to consult his grandfather in a questing ceremony. It was something that he’d always done outside under the stars and never inside the modern technology of a ship.
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The Noorn Chief had sent four of his best to trail Brian back to his camp. They were going to get new DNA for their people, one way or another and couldn’t risk Brian not returning.
They watched his confrontation with the two women. But when Brian left the women on the sand, they couldn’t choose between following Brian or following the women. The women won. They’d never seen a real woman of one sex. So following each other in a single line, they headed in the direction the women disappeared.
Melanie had her arms around Lindsay, her nose buried in the taller woman’s breasts, when Lindsay let out a squeak. “It’s okay baby.” Melanie murmured.
“There’s funny bird people staring at us.” Lindsay gasped when she could find her voice.
“Uh?” Melanie turned to see four smiling people dressed in wildly colored feathered robes. “Who are you and what are you doing here?”
“I’m Sid, this is Alm, Clanc, and Geori.” The first one introduced. “We want to have your babies.” He blurted out, unable to resist when faced with fresh genetic material.
“Pardon?” Melanie pulled back from Lindsay. “Did Brian send you?”
“Brian, no, he doesn’t know we followed him.” Sid admitted. He looked around their Spartan quarters. “How can you stand this, there’s no bath.” He looked at the space in horror. “No bath, no bed, no place to relax.”
“It’s just terrible.” Lindsay said shaking her head. “You have no idea what I’d do for a nice hot bubble bath, a pedicure and leg wax.” She looked down at her hairy bare legs in embarrassment. “I can’t believe our replicator was damaged so badly that we can’t get replacements for dilepatories.”
“We can care for you.” Alm said his voice soft. Instinctively the Noorn knew the women preferred women, so slowly and unobtrusively, they changed to become women. It was a subtle move but one that would help in their quest.
“I don’t know.” Melanie always erred in the way of caution.
“Well I do know. My name is Lindsay and this is Melanie. I’m going with these people. I want a bath.” Lindsay stepped forward. “While we’re walking you can tell me all about this baby business.” She brushed her hand over Alm’s arm. “I can’t help but notice you’re all women.” Her voice and smile was seductive.
Melanie rolled her eyes, but followed along with the rest of the group. It wasn’t like they were going anywhere soon. At least meeting the natives provided something to do besides break into the ship.