Chapter Six
Zelda was hugging Zoey, and Zani was holding them both. They talked, they babbled, and when Zoey was clean and dressed, they went looking for Skylar.
Zelda headed toward the gauzy being and said, “Skylar, Zoey wishes to speak with our parents.”
Skylar inclined her head, and three adults walked out of her robes.
Zelda gasped as her father and birth mother were standing with her mom. The triad hugged the ghosts, rotated, and repeated twice more.
Skylar walked across the area and got herself a cup of tea.
Zelda smiled and sent a mental thanks to her. One hand rose in acknowledgement.
Zoey looked in the same direction. “Who is that?”
“A friend.”
Zoey hugged her again, and they continued their final visitation. This was the only moment that their parents had stuck around for.
Ghosts were roaming around the main floor with their families, and Skylar was going for yet another cup of tea before she sat next to Harwin for a chat.
They talked for an hour before their parents hugged them again in turn, and then they walked back to Skylar. Ghosts from across the settlements hugged their loved ones and returned to Skylar, smiling.
Harwin stood up, holding her son, and said, “Okay, everybody, outside. There is a special celebration planned for tonight.”
Zelda blinked, and Orex came to slide an arm behind her. “Come along, Consort, I have it on good authority that this is a performance we don’t want to miss.”
Zani and Zoey came along with them, Aretta between them.
Everyone walked outside.
A projector pulled the night out and blocked the suns of Aten. Ra smiled, and as everyone took seats around the marked performance area, music started. A low voice said, “Since the triplets are having a birthday today, I thought we should have a celebration for their survival.”
Zoey’s head came up and started looking around.
Wild music started, and Zelda watched the images of her and her daughter walking through the silent land, them coming up to the high-walled conclave that opened its doors. When she went out to hunt, they kept Aretta, and the girl cried for her mother while the panicked humans kept her as leverage.
The final days rushed in and continued until they were both off Earth.
Zaniah had been with a group and helped work out rations so the food went further.
Zoey’s time was different. Snowmobile projections growled over snow that couldn’t exist on Aten.
Zelda was stunned. The song was about camaraderie, and one by one, the snowmobiles stopped, and the drivers took off their helmets. Three men and two women, one of the women being Zoey.
Zoey sniffled and said, “Hey, Skylar.”
The next song kicked on, and dark purple fireballs appeared in the dimness. Then, Zelda was watching a dragon-human hybrid in minimal clothing dancing with fire, spinning it on chains, controlling it with batons, and occasionally, pausing to breathe fire.
Zoey was clapping wildly with tears running down her features.
Another song, slower this time, Skylar moved, swaying slowly, and the equipment she was using was discarded, and she moved the fire in the air around her.
Rich purple with black edges, she danced, bent, and twirled with her horns glowing.
She stopped with the last note and put her hands down, quelling the fire.
Zoey got up and ran to her, hugging her tight.
* * * *
Sniffling, Zoey looked up at Skylar. “You made it.”
“No, sweetie, I didn’t. I died and was reactivated. Apparently, my ancestor banged an alien.”
“Can I touch your horns?”
“Nope. Sensitive. Still growing. Congratulations on getting your skin back.”
Zoey laughed. Her friend had grown about ten inches and had sprays of dark scales around and down her. “You are stunning.”
“Thanks. I have to get dressed and get the hell out of Dodge. Whatever makes this kind of fusion, they don’t have a lot of girls. Either way, I am going to burn rubber.”
“But... I just found you again.”
“I will contact Ra or Orex and get your call sign when you are mobile again. Your friend Trin is eager for a visit.”
Zoey grinned. “I made her a trust.”
“She doesn’t need it. She’s with Birun at Sanctuary Base. I think she is hoping for a visit, and since Cori is her half-sister, she will come along.”
“Cori?”
“Purple and black stripes.”
“Ah. I will introduce myself later. For now, will you stay if I keep hugging you?”
Skylar hugged her back. “I missed you, too. Why did you light yourself up?”
“Someone hadn’t closed the tank. The snow was soaked. The only way to light it was to step into it. The leak went further than I thought.”
Skylar looked around and snorted. “Fight-fight-fight-fight.”
Zoey looked, and her niece was on top of a woman, beating the hell out of her. Zani was shocked, Zelda was grinning, and Orex pulled Aretta off the woman on the ground. He spoke softly. The woman’s eyes went wide, and she scuttled backward.
“Oh, that was the lady who separated Aretta from Zelda. Orex is a good guy. He’s going to be a good stepdad or whatever the Hmrain call it.” Zoey smiled. “If my ex-boss ever gets a hold of me, can I call on you?”
“Absolutely. Trust me, I am scary when dressed, and the Hmrain don’t fuck with people with this adaptation.”
“Like, literally?”
“Yup. Not compatible. One over-excited doggy style and that dude is breathing out of his chest.” She rolled her eyes toward her horns. “Can we stop the hug? There is way too much bare skin and scales right now.”
“Right. But you can breathe fire.”
“Absolutely. It isn’t really fire, but close enough. I can make it peel someone if I want.”
“Ouch.”
“Too soon?” She snickered.
“How did you die?”
“A discussion for another time. I will try to meet you in the future, but I am afraid that someone is already going to use you as bait.”
“What? Why?”
“Because you are plastered to me still, and several Terrans had tablets up and recording, not to mention the little viewing drones that follow me everywhere.” Skylar squeezed her. “Come on. I have to put my layers on.”
They turned and headed to her robes. “So, did you print that outfit?”
“Nope. It came with the robes that came with the ship, not in that order.”
“So... you are a dragon.”
“Shut up.”
They laughed as she put on the clothes, her glorious body slowly covered with the floating robes. When her hood was carefully in place, she put on the veil.
“Wow. No wonder I didn’t know it was you.”
“It’s the horns. No one can account for the shape of the horns.”
“Wait, you are actually leaving?”
“Zoey, I will come and see you whenever you like. I am about to make a purchase that will make it easier.” Skylar chortled.
“Your sister’s Hmrain makes some of the fastest ships around, but only certain species can use them.
They do a dimensional slip through folds of space, and you have to be radiation resistant to be comfortable. ”
Zoey said, “Will Aretta be all right?”
“Yup. He has shielded quarters. She just has to stick to the reinforced areas. I should have said that the pilot needs resistance. Everyone else is fine.”
Zoey blinked. “Oh. Good.”
“It isn’t like a toxic radiation either, more like... time radiation? I dunno. Surfing the puckers in space is an interesting thing.”
“You have done it before?”
“Sure. My shuttle is capable of it, but I need something a little bigger. My ship is just big enough for me and six ghosts at any given time.”
“What?”
“Oh, yeah. I got cards made up, and we play poker on long glides between worlds.” She shrugged. “If I am going to carry them, I am going to make them teach me how to play cards.”
Zoey laughed. “Good, because the only card game you have really mastered is Go Fish.”
Skylar chuckled and stretched. “Well, I am very glad you have skin and body fat again. Contact me if you ever need me. If you have to, call your mom, or Zelda’s mom and tell the wind what you need. I will show up as soon as I can.”
“I have to ask, but are you supposed to? This seems like the kind of thing that the robes say should not happen.”
“I don’t listen to my inner or outerwear. They are not the boss of me.”
Zoey grinned. “That sounds like Skylar. At no time did your underwear tell you what to do, and usually, it had your name in it.”
They stood together and laughed, but Skylar felt a thump in her head. “Whoops. Gotta go.”
Zoey blinked. “Why?”
“Something is coming, and it isn’t happy with me. Gotta go make my goodbyes and run for it.”
Zoey nodded, and they went to Harwin, made their goodbyes, and told them how to call her. “Just ask Geegee. She can tell me.”
Harwin paused. “Did your fingernails turn to claws?”
“Oh. Yeah. That happens. The change is kinda relentless. As long as I don’t come out of this with a tail, I am good.”
Ra lifted his head. “You felt that?”
“Yup. I am now getting off Aten and going to visit a few more Terrans who need to know that their loved ones want the best for them. Keep Aretta from beating that woman to death. She’s small, but she has Zelda’s heart. She can manage it.”
Harwin nodded. “Take care of yourself.”
“I will, or the ghosts will. Not sure. Either way, gotta go. That fucker is fast.” She stroked Harran’s cheek, nodded to Ra, and touched Harwin’s cheek as well. “See you later, Zoey.”
She moved at full glide out of the temple and down the hill to where she parked her ship. The invisibility shield receded as she slid into the hatch and got herself into the pilot’s seat. She stroked her controls and was up and away using an energy source that came from the life in the ship itself.
Skylar took herself skyward and headed for a panic signal. It was on her way to Orex’s world, so she had time to make a stop. It wasn’t really up her alley, but it was a request from a Terran, so she headed out to see what the heck a Pericoff was.
* * * *
Zelda watched the ship silently glide up and away. Orex was staring with his eyes wide open.
“So, based on your expression, it should be making a different sound.”