The woman with purple and black skin smiled and said, “I feel like a drumroll is called for.”
That was the point Zelda realized the purple woman was human.“My name is Zelda.”
“I am Cori.My sister is friends with Zoey.We snagged Zani on our way, and my other sister, Isolde, is the one who sang the Terran tribute.Trin is our half-sister, and she found her own Hmrain at Sanctuary Base.When all is sorted, we are going for a visit.”
As she spoke, Cori was running the wake-up protocol for the unit, and the temperature was changing on its side.Cori said, “How long have you been apart?”
“Just over eighteen months.She was taken to ensure my good behaviour.”
Cori frowned.“What?”
“They kept her behind a wall so that I would defend the enclave.They were safe, and Aretta and I talked over the walls.When the ship arrived, they held me off with their guns and took her out to the shuttle.By the time I was on the next available shuttle, she was asleep and being transported.”
Zani murmured, “Ouch.Does she know about us?”
“Of course.Different countries, same blood.”
The temperature kept climbing and then settled at nominal human body temperature.The waking injection was administered, and Cori lifted the lid.“Hello, little miss.There are some people who want to see you.”
Zelda stepped forward and looked at Aretta’s surprised expression, then the tears, and then the sob, “Mom!”
Aretta rolled into her arms, and Zelda held her as she sobbed.“I am okay, sweetheart.I waited for you, and then I found you.We made it.”
Aretta sobbed, and Zelda held her; her own tears crossed her smiling face.
“I’ve got you, baby.”
Aretta hiccupped and rubbed her face.“Who are these people?”
Zelda said, “This is Cori.She’s human, too, and there is probably a long story.”
Cori grinned.“Very.”
She cleared her throat.“This is Lord Orex.He owns the worlds where we are going to be living on, and he’s sort of a stepparent to you.He has wings, and he made sure you were written into our contract.We have been together for less than a week, but we are bound together for a few years.Like a hundred years.Minimum.”
“Mom, you are consort class?”
“Yes, punkin.Now, I would like to introduce you.”
“Okay.”
Orex smiled and crouched down.“Hello, Aretta.I have heard much about you over the last week.You will have attendants, education, pursuit of most things you can imagine, and four hours per day with your mother, guaranteed, and I may not interrupt unless you request it.You can also come with us when we travel.”
Aretta blinked.“I just woke up, but that all sounds good.You agreed to alone time with me and Mom?”
He extended his hand for a handshake.“I am the one who put it in the contract.”
He caught Aretta as she lunged for a hug.“Oh.This is unexpected.”
Zelda smiled.“She’s deceptively strong, isn’t she?”
He laughed, Aretta laughed, and then Zelda turned her toward the woman with dark hair and aqua eyes.
“Mom, is that one of my aunts?”
“That is Zaniah.The one in the tank is Zoey, but she is recovering from a lot of burns.We won’t be here when she finishes, but I am pretty sure that Orex can arrange transport in one of those bizarrely fast ships of his.”
Orex stood.“I am sending one to Ra, so he might need it taken on a shakedown run.”