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  She lifted him and blinked at the rearrangement of the furniture to create a stair to the bed. “What happened?”

  Benliar was standing and staring at Spot. “He moved the furniture to give him a step up to the bed.”

  “He lifted it?”

  “He didn’t touch anything.”

  She looked down at the content little beast in her arms. “Oh, damn.”

  Chapter Four

  Apparently, the moment that Benliar arrived, a signal was sent around the world. As they ate in the dining room, the bots kept coming in with displays and messages from a variety of councillors congratulating him on his safe return.

  He made her an appointment for a full workup at the exobiology research lab and blocked off that segment of time for himself so that he could accompany her.

  “You also need to call the Avatar of Resicor. Veera pressed me into promising.”

  “How do I do that?” She held a handful of seeds to Spot, and he nibbled and pecked away, making a soothing, chortling sound.

  “I have asked the bots to download the information from the ship. The codes were sent in a bundled file.” He put a portion of what appeared to be a slab of meat down on his plate and continued eating.

  One of the bots rolled up to her and the screen presented. “Calling Resicor.”

  She blinked and tidied the front of her shawl when the screen came online. Trala was sitting at a desk, and she looked up. “Hello?”

  There was a glow about Wimsah’s childhood friend that hadn’t been there before. There was more than just Trala looking out through her eyes.

  “Hello, Trala. I am awake and on Roden. It is Wimsah, by the way.” She waved.

  Tears formed in Trala’s eyes. “Oh, Wim. I am so glad to see you. Sorry, it took me a moment to see the holographic display.”

  “You are looking well. How is Resicor? How are the people?”

  “They are stabilizing, which is excellent. Things are returning to normal and talents are beginning to integrate themselves into daily activities, out in the open. There are still pockets of discrimination, but we hit those areas with lectures and demonstrations, and it usually turns things in our favour.”

  “Nothing more from the Raiders?”

  Spot hopped onto her lap, and he looked at the image in the screen.

  “Uh, no. The Raiders were shattered to bits. What is that?”

  “A Yaluthu. He kept me together while I waited for the Citadel to find me someone to graft my mind to. If not for Spot, my consciousness would have scattered to the winds.”

  “I thought Yaluthu were taller, more aggressive.”

  Wim scratched his chin. “He will be, when he is grown up. He is just a little fella right now.”

  “Where is your partner?”

  “Partner? Oh, Benliar, Avatar of Roden. He is the one who is holding my brain together.”

  She turned the bot, and Benliar’s eyes changed and he stopped eating.

  “Sister Resicor, it is good to see you have woken.”

  “Brother Roden, it is nice to see another Avatar caring for one of my people. Is she safe?”

  “She is safer here with me than with anyone else in the universe. I will guard your daughter.”

  “Thank you.”

  The bot turned back, and Trala’s eyes were back in control. “Sorry about that but it is part of the deal. I get the lifespan, and she gets the body when she needs it.”

  “So, what is the pendant for?”

  “For when you need it. When you figure it out, let me know, because Resicor is being silent on the matter.”

  Wim laughed. “That could be annoying when you are sharing a body with someone.”

  “You have no idea. Call anytime. I miss you.” There was a lonely echo that had never been in Trala’s voice before.

  “I know. Noma is fine. Trust in that.”

  Trala narrowed her eyes. “I know that. How do you know that?”

  Wim gasped and squeaked, “Ask Resicor. Disconnect the call.”

  The screen went dark, and she sat back, vibrating with tension.

  Benliar smiled, “Another thing you were not supposed to know?”

  “Yes.” She turned toward her meal and tried to figure out what was meat, what was bread and what was something else.

  The water was all she was sure of.

  The food wasn’t bad and it was easy for her to digest.

  “The bots have worked to make sure that you ease into the food of Roden. While I have begun the transformation process in your system to allow you to adapt to our foods, it won’t be complete for another few days. I won’t take any chances traumatizing your system.”

  She nibbled her way through the soft food and she nodded. “Probably wise.”

  With a sudden flip of her stomach, she dropped Spot, got to her feet and ran to the lav, throwing up everything that she had eaten.

  Shaking, she scrubbed her face and dried her hands before leaving the lav.

  Benliar was waiting outside, with Spot. “What is wrong?”

  She smiled weakly. “You can’t be asleep as long as I was and then assume you can eat a solid dinner. Broth for me, I think.”

  “And a doctor. I should have taken you there immediately.” He lifted her and carried her up the steps with Spot chirping in irritation right behind them.

  “I will be fine if I just work my way up to solids. You can put me down.” She was hopeful.

  “I will tuck you into bed and summon the bots then call a physician.”

  “It is nothing.”

  “I don’t believe you.” Benliar looked down at her. His eyes darkened to black.

  “I promised Resicor that you would be safe here. Do not make me break that promise.”

  “Roden, I will be fine. I am sure you can see that my body is still in recovery.”

  “Benliar is worried. Exceedingly worried. You are the first true companion he has had in decades.”

  He paused and gave the bots their orders. When he turned back to her, he was still in possession of the body. “I am very glad you are here.”

  “Why? I mean, I am grateful for the chance to get myself together, but I am sure you could have taken in any number of those who no longer had a place on Resicor.”

  “True, but few, if any, of those would have appealed to my Avatar. He watches you closely, and there is a wistfulness in his mind. You have made an impression on him.”

  “How is that possible? He barely speaks.”

  “You need to stop listening with your ears, Wimsah. You have many other senses to avail yourself of.”

  “Resicor was asking those who took her people in to make them as their own. Why isn’t that happening here?”

  “I would no sooner make you over than damage a sculpture or paint over a portrait. You are as you were evolved to be. Rejoice in that.”

  “I will try. Why did you make the eyes of your people into rainbows? Why so many colours?”

  “They came together out of twelve different species, and I honour them all.”

  He blinked and the bright rainbow of Benliar’s gaze was back.

  “That looks better. Roden is informative, but you actually have an expression on your features.” She smiled at him.

  His smile was slow, but he kissed the back of her hand before tucking it under the covers and stroking her hair. “Good. My expression is currently fixed so that the worry doesn’t bleed through. Your mind is holding nicely.”

  She smiled and did a personal check. “It is, and the edges of my consciousness are still retracting and being reinforced. Give me another month and I might be able to run around without you.”

  Spot waddled up the blankets and burrowed against her chest.

  “He was worried as well.”

  Wim made a face. “How long until the doctor gets here?”

  “Why?”

  “I probably shouldn’t eat or drink anything unti
l I have that scan you are insisting on. If there is something wrong, an empty stomach will make things easier.”

  He nodded and revised the directions to one of the bots.

  “They will wait on the broth until you have been given the all clear.”

  She smiled and relaxed as fatigue swamped her. A trill of worry ran through her. This didn’t feel normal. A headache pressed inward, and she slid a hand under her hair along her scalp. Perhaps seeing a doctor wasn’t a bad idea after all.

  The woman’s hands were steady as she ran the examination scanner over Wim’s body. “Everything seems fine.”

  Wim looked her in the eye. “Check my head.”

  The scanner moved up and the doctor’s expression grew solemn. “Ah. Well that would do it.”

  Benliar looked up. “What is it?”

  Dr. Nejik closed her scanner. “Tumour at the base of her skull. It is small, but it is capable of disrupting her ability to control any psychic talent. It looks disruptive but benign.”

  Wim smiled brightly, “Can you remove it?”

  “I will need to do further scans at the medical centre. I am not equipped to do surgery here.”

  Benliar was scowling, “When?”

  “Give me a few hours to prepare. When can you have her there?”

  Benliar scooped Wim and Spot up, and he strode to the window. It burst open at his approach. “Call them to run the diagnostics the moment I arrive. We will be there in ten minutes.”

  Dr. Nejik nodded and Benliar took off.

  Wimsah put her face against his shoulder, and she said, “You don’t have to be in such a hurry.”

  “You knew.” His tone was grim.

  “I was pretty sure.”

  “Why didn’t you mention it?”

  “Because my people couldn’t treat it and the Balen healer was concentrating on keeping me alive with some muscle tone. Pretty sure that my physio didn’t cover my head.”

  He scowled. “I am going to discuss that with Balen. Your medical issue should have been visible.”

  “Should have been but wasn’t.”

  He held her tight with the bedding wrapped around her. She had to admit that this time she was far warmer than the first flight.

  The diagnosis was both a relief and a source of tension. For the last three years, she had been aware of the degradation of her self-control, and it had been a suspicion that there was something in her head. Getting treatment on Resicor had been out of the question. Her mind glowed on the scans and they wouldn’t be able to miss that little tidbit. Fear had almost cost innocents their lives. That was what she couldn’t stand.

  Spot was facing the wind and his eyes were half closed in pleasure. He enjoyed flying.

  The medics met them on the roof and put her on a gurney for her exams. There were several doctors on site who ran all of the pre-surgery scans, and then, Dr. Nejik arrived and things got into full run.

  Being sedated again didn’t really feel like something she should do, so when Nejik suggested that she should be awake during the procedure, she agreed.

  With Spot locked out of the room and clutched in Benliar’s arms, she lay face down and let them strap her in place.

  The shaving of her hair was not unexpected, but she held still not only because of the clamps, but also because this was something that had to be done.

  Chapter Five

  Everything felt lighter when she was ready for her visitors. Her head wound was sealed and she was settled against fluffy pillows.

  Benliar came in and Spot propelled himself through the air to land on her chest. She flinched at the sudden impact but caressed him as he nuzzled her chest.

  Benliar sat next to her and he took her spare hand. “Well, it was a tumour, it was big and it was hurting your control centre as well as dangerously close to a main artery.”

  She sighed and nodded. “I thought as much. I was affecting people I wasn’t even aiming at and that is when I turned myself in.”

  “How does your talent feel?”

  “Sore. It feels new, like it has gotten an overhaul.” She was sitting up in bed and the local physicians were coming in regularly to take readings.

  “You have. Roden went over every inch of you checking for abnormalities while you were sleeping. Resicor provided him with the necessary information about your physiology, and I passed it along to the doctors here.”

  “Ah. Well, that does explain the energy signature still running through my veins.” Wim shifted and Spot squeaked angrily at her until she settled.

  “He has been distraught.”

  Something was odd about that. “Why? How long was I out?”

  “Two weeks. It was necessary to check your body over and verify that the growth would not return.” His fingers stroked her palm. “It was persistent.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Your body rebuilt the growth five days ago, and it was removed again. This time, it was near the temporal lobe. So far you are clear, but it is something we need to monitor.”

  She sighed and scratched Spot under his chin. “Wonderful. This wasn’t something that I had planned on.”

  He ran his thumb over her palm and her skin prickled in reaction. “Nor had I.”

  There was a tension in Benliar that was a little peculiar.

  “What is up?”

  “Roden would like to ask you a question.”

  She paid attention and even Spot turned toward him.

  “I would ask that you become my Avatar.”

  “What? What about Benliar?”

  “You would not be my population Avatar, but you would carry a portion of my consciousness inside you. This would freeze your age and biology where you currently are while extending your lifespan indefinitely.”

  “What about the five-hundred-year cycle?”

  “It would not apply to you. You would remain as my Avatar as long as you wished.”

  “What about Benliar?”

  “He is on contract with me for five hundred years. Extending the contract would be up to him on a decade-by-decade basis. It has happened before.”

  “You have propositioned an alien woman before?” Wim gave him a narrow-eyed look.

  Roden grinned. “No. You are the first.”

  Benliar resumed control of his body. “He is waiting for your answer but take your time.”

  “Why is he offering this to me?”

  “He likes you. Worlds have been trying to get samples of Resicor DNA for years, and now, you have been offered to us for safekeeping. Roden would be honoured if you chose to add your genetics to the Roden population.”

  “How would I manage that if my biology was frozen in time?”

  “It would be negotiated at the time.” He pressed a kiss to the back of her hand.

  “Where would I find the other genetic donor?”

  “Roden is offering me as a compatible mate.”

  She smiled slowly. “He is offering your poor body to throw itself on the strange alien for the sake of species development?”

  “Something like that. Consider me a permanent companion, like Spot.”

  She looked down at the creature in her arms. “Can Spot be included in this deal?”

  “After he transforms to an adult, yes, if he wishes it.”

  Spot looked up at her with his crystal eyes, and she tried to put the ideas into pictures and project them into his mind.

  He sent her an image of little ones, smaller Yaluthu.

  “He can have his children?”

  “They can be exempted into our species-import regulations. How fast do they breed?”

  Wim smiled and scratched Spot’s chin. “They reproduce when their bondmate is stable and they have what they feel is a good home. A protected environment.”

  “Will you accept Roden’s terms?”

  She twisted her lips. “I think I need to talk to Trala.”

  Wim’s hand felt cold
when he left her with Spot. She scooted Spot around and gave him a thorough scratching that sent black fluff flying.

  “Huh, you are getting a little patchy.”

  He chortled and waved his wings happily as she rolled him around on her sheet-covered thighs.

  Dr. Nejik came in and blinked. “Is that normal for him?”

  “From the mental briefing that the head of the Balen Citadel gave me, yes.”

  “May I do your scan?”

  “Sure.”

  Dr. Nejik took the scan and her face was relieved. “No visible sign of additional recurrence.”

  “You look more relieved than I am.”

  Dr. Nejik leaned in, “I have never been so close to the Avatar before. His power is unsettling.”

  “Is it? I hadn’t noticed, but I suppose it could be considered somewhat off the normal aura for a living being.”

  Dr. Nejik’s colour was high, and to Wim’s surprise, she realized that the other woman was aroused. With a peculiar flare of jealousy, Wim reached out and suppressed the woman’s arousal an instant before Benliar returned.

  He paused and then handed Wimsah a tablet with a smile. “It has been set up as a portable com.”

  The implication was obvious. She was supposed to make the call right now.

  After having called once, she used the memorized code to contact Trala.

  Dr. Nejik stayed nearby out of curiosity.

  When Trala’s face came on the screen, she smiled. “I am getting the hang of this. Hiya, Wimsah. How have you been?”

  “Apparently, I have suffered from two brain tumours.”

  “Oh no.” She looked queasy. “How are you now?”

  “Better, but Roden has asked me a question that I need help answering.” She turned to Nejik, “Thank you, doctor.”

  When her physician had left the room, she turned back to the screen. “Sorry.”

  “So? How are you doing, and what question?”

  “I have had two tumours pulled from my skull and I have just been offered a five-hundred- to unlimited-year life span as an Avatar.”

  Trala whistled low. “That is unexpected. What do you want to do?”

  “I don’t know. You know I have been stuck in a world of nothingness. No future and my past scrubbed by the government.” She swallowed past the catch in her throat. “You are all the family I have left, and if you say no, I will say no.”