Ra smiled.“It will be good practice for when your family expands.”
He raised a hand, and a bot appeared, whistling softly.
She smiled.“Thank you, Ra.”
Orex chuckled.“She will get the etiquette eventually.”
Ra sighed.“It is the last thing they learn.Go ahead.”
The bot moved ahead of them, and Zelda followed it, taking Orex’s hand as they followed the bot down into the pyramid.
When they ended up on level five, Zelda saw four multicoloured women helping a raw and burned creature into a healing unit.She watched the injured woman being eased into the unit with a mouthpiece carefully eased in.When the eyes fluttered open, she knew who it was, and she remained still so as not to distract those attending her.The woman was set up, the unit was closed, and fluid began to fill the column.When it reached a certain fill point, the healing unit tilted upward, and windows slid open, showing the body floating comfortably without resting on its own raw tissue.
She smiled and walked up to the unit, looking at the cloudy eyes that she knew so well.“Hey, Zoey.You look like a peeled shrimp, but you are alive, and you will get better.”
Zoey looked down at her, pressed a palm to the tank, then touched her tufted head.
“Yes, I will see you on the dreamscape.Oh, this is my Hmrain, Orex.Our connection is new, but he got me here as soon as we found out Aretta was being shipped here.So, major points.”
Another voice said, “Zelda?Oh, wow.I haven’t seen you in forever.”
Zelda turned and saw the one of the twins who wasn’t burned to hell and back.“Zani?”
Zaniah pushed her hood back and smiled.Zelda grinned, and they stepped toward each other and hugged.
Orex remained quiet, and then Zelda made the introductions.The multicoloured women pushed the sleep canister in, and one grinned.“Zelda, this is your daughter.”
Zelda looked around the room.“My entire family is here.”She burst into tears, and Orex held her.
Chapter Three
Orex was rubbing herback as they went over to Aretta’s sleep unit.Zani stood next to her, and Zelda held her breath.
Orex said, “Breathe, Zelda.”
Zani grinned.